MotoGP announced on the morning of this Tuesday (11) the launch event for the 2027 season in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The event will take place on February 21 at Botafogo Beach, near Sugarloaf Mountain, and occurs just a few days before the start of next year’s championship, as well as marking the return of a category event to the Rio capital since 2004, when the now-defunct Jacarepaguá racetrack hosted the Brazilian GP.
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The announcement comes just over four months after MotoGP returned to hold a race in the country, with the Brazilian GP at the Ayrton Senna International Circuit in Goiânia (GO). The Brazilian round sold out and attracted an audience of just under 150,000 people over the three days of activities.
The launch brings together all riders, teams, and manufacturers involved in the premier category of world motorcycling. On other occasions, the MotoGP event was held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, which hosted this year’s championship presentation. The event will also have public attendance, allowing fans to see the bikes up close outside of a race weekend.
“The MotoGP season launch has become one of the landmark moments of the year for our championship, bringing together all teams, riders, and manufacturers at the start of a new season,” says Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of the MotoGP Group.
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“The enthusiasm shown by Brazilian fans during our sold-out return to Goiânia in 2026 confirmed the extraordinary connection between MotoGP and Brazil. After the success of our recent season launch events in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Rio de Janeiro offers the perfect stage to continue raising the bar, combining iconic locations, passionate fans, and world-class entertainment. We look forward to holding our biggest and most spectacular MotoGP Season Launch ever,” Ezpeleta adds.
“Rio de Janeiro is honored to host the launch of the 2027 MotoGP season and to welcome one of the most important annual events in international motorsport to our city. After the extraordinary success of MotoGP’s return to Brazil in Goiânia, we are proud to be part of the celebration of the start of a new season,” says Eduardo Cavaliere, current Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
“Few cities can match the combination of natural beauty, sporting passion, and world-renowned landmarks that Rio offers. From Botafogo Beach to Christ the Redeemer, this event will showcase the best of Rio de Janeiro to millions of fans around the world, while providing unforgettable experiences for riders, teams, partners, and visitors. We look forward to welcoming the MotoGP family and fans from all over the world to our city,” Cavaliere adds.
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