Di Giannantonio Secures Pole Position at Brazilian MotoGP Amid Track Repairs

Fabio Di Giannantonio of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team claimed pole position at the 2026 MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiânia, Brazil, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The qualifying session was followed by a temporary suspension of activities due to a hole that appeared on the main straight of the track.

Qualifying Results and Di Giannantonio’s Performance

Di Giannantonio secured his second career pole position with a lap time of 1:17.410, marking his first pole since the 2022 Italian GP. Road Racing World reports that Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) qualified second with a time of 1:17.480, and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) took third with 1:17.491.

The Italian rider progressed from Q1 to claim the top spot, expressing his joy at securing pole position at a new circuit in Brazil. “Well, it’s been a crazy day right now! Arriving here at a new circuit, in this beautiful country, and securing my second pole position after a long time since my first. I’m super happy about that,” Di Giannantonio stated, as reported by Paddock GP. He similarly acknowledged the surprise and honor of receiving congratulations from Brazilian football legend Cafu, a Roma supporter.

Track Repairs and Schedule Adjustments

Shortly after the qualifying session, MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (MSEG) announced a suspension of the program due to the discovery of a hole on the main straight. The issue was attributed to heavy rains throughout the week, which caused delays in Friday’s free practice.

Repairs were quickly undertaken, and MotoGP confirmed that the Sprint race would proceed with an approximate 20-minute delay. The Moto2 and Moto3 qualifying sessions were postponed until further notice. The updated schedule is as follows:

• MotoGP Sprint Race: 4:20 PM (local time)
• Moto3 Classification: 5:10 PM (local time)
• Moto2 Classification: 9:40 AM (Sunday, local time)

Circuit Details and Investment

The Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiânia is the shortest circuit on the MotoGP calendar. The main race will consist of 31 laps, exceeding the usual distance for most races. The circuit underwent significant renovations and modernization, with an investment of R$250 million from the Government of Goiás. These improvements included upgrades to the stands, boxes, control tower, medical center, paddock, and technical areas, as well as resurfacing and widening of the track.