Brazil’s return to the MotoGP calendar, after more than two decades, put Goiânia back on the international circuit this week, marked by adjustments and learning for the organization of the event. The stage mobilized the government of Goiás and the private sector, increased the flow of visitors and advanced the operation, even if there were points to correct.
The main test came with the rain, which put pressure on the track and the organization throughout the weekly schedule. The race this Sunday (22), at 3pm (Brasília time), will indicate the positive aspects throughout the entire stage and what the category needs to pay more attention to over the next four years, a period that includes the contract signed to race in the country.
To make the stage viable, the government of Goiás spent R$250 million. Of this total, around R$60 million was allocated to the renovation of the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna. According to Seel (Secretariat of State for Sport and Leisure), the other R$190 million includes the payment of sponsorships for the stage and the purchase of equipment that will become part of the permanent structure of the circuit.
The modernization was extensive, with the reconstruction and expansion of the paddock, updating of the stands, press room and boxes, in addition to the construction of a new control tower and a medical center. Administrative and support areas were also renovated. The 3,825 meters of the track were redone and resurfaced, with the replacement of tire barriers, guardrails and curbs, to meet the category’s requirements.
The projected economic impact reaches R$800 million, considering direct expenses and indirect effects in sectors such as tourism, transport and services. In a statement, the government states that the event is part of a strategy to increase the state’s visibility and attract new investments.
Experts interviewed by the report, however, preach caution when reading these estimates. “Public investment is hardly paid for by direct returns. It relies on indirect impacts, which are more difficult to measure and, in practice, often inflated by optimistic assumptions”, says Eduardo Corch, marketing professor at Insper and general director of the EMW Global agency for Latin America.
It also highlights limitations in comparison with other categories. “The comparison with F1 needs to be careful. The São Paulo Grand Prix operates on a different level, with a consolidated history and more robust infrastructure.”
In the opinion of consultant José Sarkis Arakelian, the problem lies in the calculation model. “These numbers combine direct, indirect and induced effects, but they depend on assumptions that are not always confirmed,” he says. “It is common for there to be double counting and substitution of local consumption, so it makes more sense to read these values as potential, not as a guaranteed return.”
Corch also points out that the impact tends to be concentrated in the short term. “In practice, these events generate spikes in activity. The legacy does not come automatically. It depends on the continuous use of infrastructure and strategies to attract new flows of tourism and business.”
Sector data indicates this movement. The hotel chain records high occupancy, but still maintains between 15% and 20% of vacancies available during the weekend.
The return of MotoGP also has symbolic weight. The category had not raced in the country since 2004, when it left the Jacarepaguá racetrack, in Rio de Janeiro. Later attempts to take the stage to other cities, such as Brasília and Deodoro, did not advance.
Goiânia, in turn, already hosted the World Cup between 1987 and 1989, before the visit to Interlagos, in 1992, and the sequence in Rio throughout the following decade. The current stage resumes this relationship, now in a more competitive scenario between countries due to global events.
Inside the track, the weekend started with limitations. The rain delayed training and made it difficult for drivers to adapt to the renovated circuit. “Operational problems, such as rain, are included in this account. In events that are still being consolidated, the impact is greater”, says Corch.
MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta assessed the stage as positive, despite the necessary adjustments. “It’s been a very positive week, we are very happy. The city responded well and the paddock really liked the atmosphere,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that there are areas for improvement. “We had problems with rain, but this is part of the first year. There are adjustments to be made, and the tendency is for the event to evolve in the next editions.”
Brazilian Diogo Moreira, one of the few who already knew the track, fell during one of the training sessions. “We weren’t able to set a race pace or understand the tire well,” he said. His assessment is of an open race, with greater room for variations throughout the dispute.
He also pointed out that the high-speed route offers few clear overtaking points, which can increase the weight of the strategy.
Despite the uncertainties, the pilot highlighted the environment. “It’s been a long time since I raced in Brazil. Seeing the grandstand full makes a difference,” he said.
Off the track, the event boosts sports tourism, with ticket sales for the three days and offers of packages that include transport and accommodation. “There is a growing demand from fans who want to transform the race into a complete experience”, says Joaquim Lo Prete, from Absolut Sport, one of the companies that offered hospitality packages for the stage.
