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Grand Prix of Brazil Sprint delayed after sinkhole appears on main straight, Moto2 and Moto3 qualifying to go ahead
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Updated 21/03/2026 at 18:33 GMT
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The Grand Prix of Brazil has endured a difficult time already as heavy rain meant that the race schedule was altered on Friday, pushing the practice session back to the late afternoon. There were more severe problems for Saturday after race organisers said that heavy rainfall had caused a sinkhole on the track's main straight. The Sprint race start time was delayed as a result.
'You can't get away with it here' - Marquez crashes during Grand Prix of Brazil qualifying
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Brazilian MotoGP was thrown into fresh chaos on Saturday when a sinkhole appeared on the main straight, delaying the start of the Sprint race.
Action at the Ayrton Senna track has been beset by problems because of heavy rain that has led to ”weepers” keeping parts of the circuit slippery despite hours of dry and hot conditions.
There have been hours of rainfall in other parts of the weekend and the days preceding the competitive racing in Brazil, and it appears that there may now be more severe complications to deal with for the race organisers.
Emergency repair work was taking place on Saturday afternoon as a sinkhole, reportedly measuring around two metres by one metre and waist deep, was treated by gravel to patch up the surface.
While the two qualifying sessions had taken place for MotoGP riders, with Fabio Di Giannantonio quickest, there was still a busy schedule planned for the rest of Saturday, which has now been thrown into doubt.
World champion Marc Marquez was third quickest, while Marco Bezzecchi was the second fastest in the session after failing to start directly in Q2.
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'A huge, huge crash' - Bagnaia walks away from heavy fall at Grand Prix of Brazil qualifying
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marquez was one of a number of riders, including his Ducati Lenovo team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, to spin out on the track in the qualifying action.
TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson noted in his column that the race weekend had become hugely difficult to predict as riders got used to the wet conditions and new layout.
Qualifying for Moto2 and Moto3 was postponed as a result, with the Sprint race delayed.
There were already changes made to the action on Friday, with the practice session delayed because of heavy rainfall.
Tome Alfonso, FIM MotoGP's safety officer, said: ”Due to the heavy rains in the past days, there has been a depression in the track surface caused by soil movement.
”It is off the racing line, and we’re already repairing the problem. If everything goes well, we should be able to have the MotoGP sprint today.”
An official statement from MotoGP read: "Due to the heavy rain recently suffered in the region, an issue in the track surface has arisen on the main straight at the Autodromo Internacional de Goiania – Ayrton Senna.
"The FIM and MotoGP, together with the local promoter, are working to solve this problem as soon as possible.
"Due to the time required to complete these repairs, when track activity resumes the next session live on track will be the MotoGP Tissot Sprint.
- Hodgson Column: Can Bezzecchi repeat? Bagnaia under pressure? And why Marquez is like Schumacher
- Di Giannantonio secures shock Brazil pole, Bezzecchi second and Marquez third
"Qualifying for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes have been postponed until further notice."
A later update clarified that the sprint race would go ahead at 7:20pm UK time, with the Moto2 and Moto3 action to take place afterwards.
The Grand Prix of Brazil is being held for the first time since 2004 and it is Goiania’s first hosting since 1989.
Stream every race of the 2026 Brazil Grand Prix live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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