A packed and vibrant Grand Prix of Brazil brought MotoGP™ to South America and the Ayrton Senna International Circuit for the first time since 1989. The 3.8km course was untried for the current teams and riders but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing was able to pocket nine points for the 7th place finish by Pedro Acosta.
Highlights and key moments from race day at Ayrton Senna International Circuit:
A short and tight layout at the Ayrton Senna International Circuit in Goiânia provided a fresh challenge for MotoGP as the teams worked towards optimum race set-up with Michelin hard carcass tires. A reduced 23-lap distance awaited the grid in the afternoon as 60,800 people gathered for the first Grand Prix in the country in 22 years.
Pedro Acosta blasted off from P9 on the grid and the third row. The Spaniard made a decent getaway and was straight into the top five. The 21-year-old pushed the limits of his grip and traction and motored past the checkered flag with P7. Pedro holds 3rd in the championship standings.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 sprung from 20th and 22nd with Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini respectively. Enea maintained his tire life and pushed into the top 15. Maverick completed the race in 18th and made another step in his adaptation to the 2026 KTM RC16.
Brad Binder began the GP from 21st and needed to make one of his customary hard charges in the early laps to gain ground and positions. The South African reached the limit of the points but then fell on lap four.
MotoGP switches hemisphere this week with the journey to Austin, Texas and to the sprawling Circuit of the Americas for the Grand Prix of the United States next weekend.
Pedro Acosta, 7th and 3rd in the championship: “The first 8-9 laps were quite good but we were not so fast on the straight today. I was missing some points to fight for the podium. We made the maximum with what we have in our hands. Austin will also be a tough one with these two long straights but now we must work on it.”
Enea Bastianini, 15th and 17th in the championship: “The track was new for everybody and we thought we might suffer a bit but it was more than other races. The layout was really fast and in the middle, sectors two and three, are slow and we suffered with acceleration. Saturday was difficult because it was dry and we rode on Friday in the wet. For sure, we missed something. That is clear. Pedro was quite fast but today my pace was close to him but starting from behind is very difficult.”
Maverick Viñales, 18th and 20th in the championship: “I think this weekend was quite positive in some areas but still there is a lot of work to do; not only on the bike but also myself. It’s a combination of two. The softer compound on the rear is pushing the front more and it complicates the turning on the bike and to have a good feeling. So, we need to overcome this moment. We need to go to Austin with full motivation.”
Brad Binder, DNF and 9th in the championship: “Just a really short race. I started fast and passed a few guys at the beginning but then went into Turn 1, locked the front wheel and that was about it. I would definitely have enjoyed a few more laps. Onto America from here and we will see how we line-up.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Of course this weekend has not gone as expected, especially after a good Grand Prix in Buriram, but on the other hand it has been a really challenging couple of days for all of us with the weather conditions. Yesterday our expectations were a bit higher for Quali and in this category now if you don’t have the right start positions then it is so difficult. Also, we saw some technical points this weekend where we need to make some improvements but this is a never-ending part of the business! Anyway, looking forward to COTA which is a really different track and different conditions as well. I believe that we are ready to bring something home in Austin, and something better than what we experienced here.”
Results MotoGP Grand Prix of Brazil
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia 30:19.760
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia +3.231
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati +3.780
7. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +10.687
15. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +23.840
18. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +36.397
DNF. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia, 56 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia, 45
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 42
9. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 13
17. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 5
20. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 0
KTM GP Academy
Moto3 sampled wet and dry track conditions during Friday and Saturday but the 24-lap race on Sunday morning took place under blue skies and with high temperatures. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Valentin Perrone started from 2nd on the grid and was chased into the Moto3 leading pack by Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte (launching from P6), Rico Salmela (P9) and Alvaro Carpe (P10).
Perrone, seeking his second consecutive podium finish, looked strong and all four KTM GP Academy riders were in the dispute for 2nd place until the race was red flagged. The restart meant a 5-lap ‘sprint’ and only Carpe, Perrone and Salmela were able to get into contention for silverware. In the final drag to the line Carpe was 4th and missed the podium by less than a tenth of a second. Salmela followed in 6th with Perrone 7th and Uriarte in 11th.
Moto2 qualifying took place on Sunday morning after track maintenance caused a delay on Saturday. Collin Veijer set the sixth fastest chrono attempt to occupy a space on the second row of the grid and rookie Jose Antonio Rueda was P27. Moto2 lasted for 26 laps and the Dutch racer slotted his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine into the second group, battling just outside the top five. Collin confirmed 8th by the finish and after some intense close action. Rueda made the flag in 21st position.
Results Moto3 Grand Prix of Brazil (after restart)
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team 7:19.821
2. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.143
3. Veda Pratama (INA), Honda +1.650
4. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +1.741
6. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.842
7. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.949
11. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +3.158
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 45 points
2. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 28
3. Veda Pratama (INA) Honda, 27
4. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 26
6. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 25
8. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 14
11. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 10
Results Moto2 Grand Prix of Brazil
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team 35:46.382
2. Daniel Muñoz (ESP) +1.226
3. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) +3.916
5. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team +8.652
8. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo +11.198
21. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +31.633
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 33 points
2. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP), 28.5
3. Daniel Muñoz (ESP), 24
6. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 13.5
9. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 11
25. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 0