Soon we head for Brazil and a new track for everyone on the grid – so what can we expect from Goiânia?
Ready for another awesome new track? We know, technically we’ve been to Goiânia before in the late eighties, but it’s definitely new to everyone on the grid – and it’s all been re-done to make it a stunning new home for modern MotoGP. So… what does history tell us about who’ll be quickest out the blocks?
As you may expect, seven-time MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez tops the list of wins at new circuits with four. Is it due to longevity or more? The Ducati Lenovo Team rider counts opening wins at the USA’s Circuit of the Americas in 2013, Argentina’s Termas de Rio Hondo in 2014, Thailand’s Buriram International Circuit in 2018 and Hungary’s Balaton Park just last year.
The most recent places where he didn’t win first time out are Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia in 2022, and Algarve International Circuit in Portugual in 2020. Both of those went the way of Miguel Oliveira, who now races in WorldSBK. The only rider on the 2026 MotoGP grid other than Marc Marquez to have won at a new track is Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who took the spoils in India in 2023.
If Bezzecchi wins in Brazil, it would not only be a win at a new track, but a stunning fourth win in a row for the #72 and for Aprilia. He was the early leader in Hungary last season too until he was passed by Marc Marquez and then Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Looking further back, the first Qatar GP in 2004 was first won by Sete Gibernau on Honda’s RC211V. In 2005, China’s Shanghai International Circuit saw its maiden race go the way of Valentino Rossi, while later that season, Marco Melandri took the win at the first-ever Turkish GP at Istanbul Park.
Three years later, Rossi pocketed victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before we saw MotorLand Aragon make its debut in 2010, with Casey Stoner standing on the top step of the podium for the final time with Ducati. 2016 saw the new-look Red Bull Ring in Austria arrive on the calendar, with Andrea Iannone claiming victory there – a long-awaited return to the top step for Ducati, which seems crazy to say now. That’s another first timer not won by Marc Marquez.
Who will take victory as modern MotoGP debuts at Goiânia? Tune in for the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Brazil from the 20th to the 22nd of March to find out!
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