After the opening round in Thailand, the 2026 FIM MotoGP World Championship headed to South America for the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Brazil, held from March 20 to 22 at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna.
This event marked MotoGP's return to Brazil on a completely resurfaced and modernised circuit, presenting a new challenge for Michelin Motorsport, which had never run on this configuration before.
Disrupted weather conditions on the opening day
Friday was marked by highly unstable weather, with heavy rain in the morning and a track that remained largely wet throughout the day. These mixed conditions did not allow teams to fully exploit slick tyres within their optimal operating window.
Riders nevertheless used the full range of available specifications, both front and rear, as well as MICHELIN Power Rain tyres, which proved effective—particularly the Medium front, delivering good support and stability.
While some tyres completed more than 20 laps without abnormal wear, the data collected remained limited due to track conditions. Lap times, several seconds slower than simulations, did not allow for definitive conclusions.
Gradual build-up on a dry track
With dry conditions returning on Saturday, Michelin Motorsport was able to gather essential data on tyre behaviour on this highly asymmetric track.
All three front specifications were evaluated: the Soft stood out during qualifying, while the Hard established itself as the benchmark in race conditions, particularly during the Tissot Sprint, thanks to its stability and consistent grip despite track temperatures reaching up to 47°C.
At the rear, the Soft and Medium options delivered very similar performance, offering different strategic choices: more agility with the Soft, and greater consistency with the Medium.
Performance aligned with pre-event simulations, with Fabio Di Giannantonio securing pole position in 1'17.410—a new all-time lap record for the circuit.
A race contested on a demanding track
On Sunday, conditions changed dramatically, with sunny weather and track temperatures reaching 57°C at the start of the race.
Due to track degradation observed after the support races, Race Direction decided to reduce the Grand Prix distance from 31 to 23 laps.
Most riders opted for a Hard front tyre and a Medium rear, confirming the trends observed the previous day.
After an excellent start, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) took the lead in the early laps, ahead of teammate Jorge Martín. Behind them, the battle for the podium animated the race, particularly between Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Márquez. The Italian rider ultimately secured third place at the chequered flag.
Despite concerns about track degradation, MICHELIN Power Slick tyres demonstrated strong consistency, with lap times remaining stable from start to finish. The fastest lap was set by Marco Bezzecchi in 1'18.654.
Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Competition Manager
"This weekend in Goiânia was a real challenge for us, as we were discovering a completely new circuit without any prior testing opportunities. The first day, marked by very unstable weather conditions, did not allow us to collect all the data we had hoped for. Nevertheless, initial rider feedback was positive, particularly regarding the behaviour of the rain tyres and the robustness of the slicks, even in far-from-ideal conditions.
From Saturday onwards, with a dry track, we were able to validate the choices made based on our simulations. Performance met our expectations, with lap times in line with our forecasts and a good understanding of the behaviour of the different specifications. The Hard front tyre proved to be a very reliable race solution, while at the rear, the Soft and Medium options offered interesting strategic possibilities for teams.
The race confirmed the consistency and performance of our tyres, despite a very demanding track and high temperatures. Even with the shortened race distance due to track degradation, we observed consistent lap times from start to finish, which is very positive. This weekend allowed us to gather valuable data on this circuit, which will be essential for the future. We are now looking forward to continuing the season in Austin."
The next round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship will take place in the United States at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States, from March 27 to 29, 2026.
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