This weekend’s return to MotoGP action at Brazil’s Goiania circuit faces yet another significant setback, one that could well see Saturday afternoon’s sprint race called off or at least delayed.

Days of heavy rain at the circuit appear to have caused a sinkhole to open up on the start-finish straight following MotoGP’s qualifying session.

Photographs seen by The Race have confirmed the extent of the damage done to the circuit, with workers currently up to their waists in a pit right on the middle of the track’s main straight.

How long it’s going to take to repair the significant damage remains to be seen, and is likely a question that even now circuit bosses and MotoGP organisers will struggle to answer.

MotoGP’s team bosses were understood to have attended a crisis meeting with organisers, in an attempt to work out what happens next. For now, it has been decided that Moto3 and Moto2 qualifying are being postponed - with MotoGP prioritising getting the premier-class sprint in on Saturday.

The news comes as a fresh blow to the first weekend at Goiania in 30 years, following heavy rain overnight on Thursday that caused fresh flooding to the track and delayed Friday morning’s track action.

In a statement issued in response to a request for comment from The Race, MotoGP said: "Due to the heavy rain recently suffered in the region, an issue in the track surface has arisen on the main straight [of the Goiania track].

"The FIM and MotoGP, together with the local promoter, are working to solve this problem as soon as possible.

"Due to the time required to complete these repairs, when track activity resumes the next session live on track will be the MotoGP Tissot Sprint.

"Qualifying [sessions] for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes have been postponed until further notice.

"More information will be provided at 14:00 local time [17:00 GMT]."

FIM MotoGP safety officer Tome Alfonso was quoted as describing the issue as "a depression in the track surface caused by soil movement".

“It is off the racing line and we’re already repairing the problem. If everything goes well, we should be able to have the MotoGP Sprint today," he said.