Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez took his first victory of the 2026 season in the delayed Goiania sprint, defeating Ducati stablemate Fabio Di Giannantonio.
A wait of an extra 80 minutes for the race to start - caused by a sinkhole on the main straight, reportedly due to a burst drainage pipe, needing repairs - was followed by a relatively straightforward 15-lap outing, though one with considerable intrigue in the victory battle.
Di Giannantonio led most of the race from pole, and had been done a solid by namesake Fabio Quartararo - who went up to second into Turn 1 and then spent two laps delaying Marquez.
Even once Marquez was finally clear of the Yamaha, Di Giannantonio was still building the gap - which had been as high as 1.4s at one point.
But as is so often the case, Marquez then gradually began to whittle it down in the latter phase of the race, before putting Di Giannantonio under significant pressure late on.
It eventually caused Di Giannantonio to buckle on the third-to-last lap, the VR46 ride wide through Turn 12 and Marquez outdragging him on the run to Turn 13.
Di Giannantonio then hounded Marquez over the two remaining laps but couldn't find a way past.
Jorge Martin led an Aprilia 3-4-5 three seconds behind them, taking advantage of an error from team-mate Marco Bezzecchi to get past.
Trackhouse's Ai Ogura followed the two factory riders, his podium hopes compromised by several laps spent being frustrated by Quartararo - who ended up a spectacular sixth.
Alex Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia (the leading of the four riders to run a medium rear rather than the soft rear) and Pedro Acosta completed the points, with home hero Diogo Moreira next up - the rookie 10th as the best of the Hondas.
Acosta's single point is enough to keep him two points clear of Bezzecchi in the standings.
There were crashes for Joan Mir (who was pushed out wide by Raul Fernandez and fell), Johann Zarco and Maverick Vinales.
Context:
Marquez claims his first 2026 victory after overtaking Di Giannantonio in the final laps of Brazil sprint.
Context:
The win shows Marquez's championship defense is gaining momentum despite a slow season start.
Context:
A sinkhole caused by burst drainage delayed the race start by 80 minutes at Goiania circuit.
