MotoGP Recap - Aprilia continue their strong start to 2026 with MotoGP’s return to Brazil
24 March 2026History was made in all three classes as MotoGP returned to Brazil for the second round of the 2026 season. With Fermin Aldeguer declared fit on Thursday, we saw our first race weekend of the season with the full lineup of MotoGP’s 2026 riders.
Despite the weather and track conditions causing difficulties across the weekend, fans were still treated to fantastic racing during MotoGP’s visit to the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna.
Di Giannantonio achieves second MotoGP career pole
Friday’s on-track action was heavily impacted by rain, with damp patches on the track catching several riders out in MotoGP’s Practice, leaving several big names fighting for a spot in Q2. Fabio Di Giannantonio navigated a tricky Q1 session to successfully secure a position in Q2, and set the best time of the session, achieving his first pole position since the 2022 Italian Grand Prix, the second in his MotoGP career. Lining up 2nd on the grid was Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi, who also made his way through Q1, after a difficult Practice session saw him finish 20th. The front row of the grid was completed by Marc Marquez, despite crashing during the session.
Marc Marquez takes late win in delayed Sprint
Saturday afternoon’s track action was delayed due to a hole emerging on the main straight of the newly finished circuit. After work was done to fix the issue, MotoGP’s first Sprint in Brazil was underway. Despite leading the majority of the 15 lap Sprint, Di Giannantonio was forced to settle for 2nd after a mistake with 3 laps remaining saw Marc Marquez make his way past, taking his first victory of 2026. The final podium spot went the way of Jorge Martin, beating teammate Bezzecchi to achieve his first podium with Aprilia Racing.
Aprilia Racing secure 1-2 finish in Sunday’s Grand Prix
In a race that was 8 laps shorter than originally planned due to track degradation issues, the Aprilia Racing duo of Bezzecchi and Martin dominated the field to take an impressive 1-2 finish. The win means Bezzecchi becomes only the fifth rider in the modern era of MotoGP to win four consecutive Grands Prix, and is the first ever Aprilia rider in MotoGP to win four consecutive Grands Prix, whilst Martin achieved his first Grand Prix podium since the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix.
Behind the Aprilia Racing duo, Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez were once again engaged in battle, though this time, it was Di Giannantonio who came out on top, taking 3rd place, and giving Ducati their first Grand Prix podium finish of the 2026 season.
Holgado adds to his growing list of Moto2 wins
CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team’s Daniel Holgado has added another Moto2 win to his name after a strong display in Sunday’s Moto2 race. The polesitter got a brilliant start to the Grand Prix, but it was Alex Escrig who got the holeshot from 3rd on the grid. Both Escrig and David Muñoz briefly led the race before Holgado made his move on Lap 3, taking the lead. Though Muñoz did attack again later in the race, retaking the lead with three laps remaining, Holgado, with better drive out of the final corner, made it past Muñoz with two laps to go, and took the win.
After a strong performance throughout the race, Escrig narrowly missed out on his first Moto2 podium after running wide on the final lap, allowing Manuel Gonzalez past to take 3rd.
Quiles victorious in Moto3, with new faces joining him on the podium
After a series of crashes, including a huge highside from polesitter Joel Esteban on Lap 7, red flags were brought out on Lap 15 following a crash for Scott Ogden. As less than two thirds race distance had been completed, the race was restarted for a five lap dash.
Maximo Quiles, who had built a lead of over three seconds over his closest rivals during the original race, got a great start from pole for the restart, and despite his teammate Marco Morelli making a late charge for the win, it was Quiles who took the victory. Marco Morelli came across the line 2nd, taking his first podium in Moto3, whilst Veda Pratama picked up a 3rd place finish on his second ever race in the Moto3 World Championship, becoming the first Indonesian rider to take a Grand Prix podium.
Qatar Grand Prix date revised
The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar has been postponed to 8 November and will now be Round 20 of the 2026 MotoGP season, moving from its original slot of Round 4 in April. The dates for the Repsol Grand Prix of Portugal and the Motul Grand Prix of Valencia have been altered to reflect this change.
There’s not long to wait until MotoGP is back out on track, with the Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States taking place this weekend. Aprilia have cemented themselves as the manufacturer to beat so far in 2026, but can they continue their winning ways at the Circuit Of The Americas?
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