MotoGP Brazil weekend faces disruption due to track sinkhole

The opening MotoGP weekend at Brazil's Goiania circuit ran into another disruption after a sinkhole appeared on the start-finish straight, forcing officials to change Saturday's schedule.

The problem was discovered after MotoGP qualifying, when part of the track surface collapsed following several days of heavy rain in the area. Images from the circuit show the extent of the damage, with repair crews standing waist-deep in a hole that opened up in the middle of the main straight.

Officials quickly held discussions to decide how to proceed. Team bosses joined MotoGP organisers in a meeting to assess the situation and determine whether the track could be repaired in time for the rest of the day's action.

Initial plans saw qualifying sessions for Moto3 and Moto2 postponed while organisers prioritised running the MotoGP Sprint race later on Saturday. The governing body's safety team began immediate repairs to the damaged section of the circuit.

FIM MotoGP safety officer Tome Alfonso described the issue as "a depression in the track surface caused by soil movement." He added that the affected area was located off the main racing line and that repair work was already underway. "We're already fixing the problem. If everything goes well, we should be able to run the MotoGP Sprint today," Alfonso said.

MotoGP organisers first announced that the Sprint race would start 20 minutes later than planned. However, the start time was pushed back again, first to a 35-minute delay and then to more than an hour as repairs continued.

The sinkhole is the latest setback for MotoGP's return to Goiania after a 30-year absence. Earlier in the weekend, heavy rain overnight on Thursday caused flooding at the circuit, delaying the start of Friday's track sessions.

With repairs ongoing, organisers are working to ensure the track is safe before the rest of the weekend's racing can continue.