MotoGP’s highly anticipated return to Brazil is facing serious uncertainty as heavy rain has flooded the Autódromo Ayrton Senna just days before the scheduled Grand Prix. The event was set to mark the championship’s first race in the country in 37 years.
Since Monday, relentless downpours in Goiânia have overwhelmed the recently refurbished circuit. By Tuesday morning, key infrastructure had already been affected. The main access tunnel to the paddock was fully submerged, cutting off a critical route for teams and officials. While parts of the track surface remained usable at first, surrounding run-off areas were quickly saturated.
Conditions worsened later in the day as rain intensified again. Water levels in the paddock tunnel rose to more than 25 cm, while several sections of the circuit became unusable. The final corner and the end of the main straight were heavily waterlogged, and Turn 1 was particularly affected, with a large stretch of asphalt covered by standing water.
Local authorities responded by issuing a flood alert across the city, warning of further heavy rainfall and potential disruption. The situation has raised concerns not only for the race weekend but also for safety and logistics at the venue.
Circuit staff have begun urgent recovery efforts, deploying tanker trucks to remove water from the track. Warmer temperatures and brief periods of sunshine have helped improve conditions slightly, with some areas beginning to dry. However, forecasts indicate more rain in the coming days, leaving organisers in a race against time.
With less than 48 hours before the opening Moto3 practice session on Friday morning, uncertainty remains over whether the event can proceed as planned. Any disruption would be a significant blow, especially after recent calendar changes earlier in the season.
For now, attention remains fixed on the weather as MotoGP awaits a decision on whether its long-awaited return to Brazil can go ahead.
