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The opening weekend in Goiânia introduced Kensei Matsudaira to the international Moto4 stage as he represented the United States with Team Roberts. From the outset he showed notable speed, topping the first practice session on a track that was damp in places. Those early laps gave him confidence and momentum, and his results in practice ultimately shaped the starting order when later sessions could not proceed normally. The weekend mixed strong performance with unpredictable circumstances, including unexpected track damage and wet weather that ultimately shortened the race. Through it all, Matsudaira left Brazil on the podium and positioned himself near the top of the championship standings, proving the crew and rider can adapt under pressure.
Practice performance and grid formation
On Friday Kensei Matsudaira stamped his authority by setting the fastest time in free practice 1, the only rider to dip into a 1:39 lap on a semi-wet surface. That session margin—roughly four tenths clear of the field—highlighted his comfort in mixed conditions and with the Team Roberts setup. During free practice 2, held in changing conditions with rain tires on, he remained competitive and finished the session third, once again within a narrow window of the leader. When qualifying could not be run due to damage to the circuit, the organizers used the combined free practice times to set the grid, handing Matsudaira the crucial pole position for the main race.
Race day drama and final result
Sunday brought further variables as rain moved across parts of the circuit and the race was interrupted after a handful of laps. Matsudaira rode in the leading group for much of the short running and held the lead for significant stretches, using strong lines and strategic pace management on the long home straight and technical sectors. As rain intensified in the final sector, two competitors capitalized on slipstreaming down the straight, moving past on the fourth lap. With the event subsequently red-flagged and the planned restart cancelled, officials declared the result based on the order at the end of lap four, placing Kensei third and securing a podium finish for his debut.
How the outcome was decided
The decision to accept the standings after lap four followed standard protocols when a race cannot be resumed. The team had prepared for different scenarios and relied on data from practice to manage tire choice and race pace, but the abrupt weather shift changed the contest dynamics. Despite the shortened distance, the official result awarded full credit for the finishing order at the stoppage, leaving Matsudaira with a valuable points haul and a tangible result to build on. The weekend illustrated the impact of external factors such as track integrity and weather on small-displacement category races like the Moto4 Latin Cup.
Reaction and what comes next
Kensei Matsudaira expressed mixed feelings after stepping onto the podium: disappointed that the race ended prematurely but satisfied to have scored a top-three finish in his first appearance. He highlighted that the wet patches had been manageable early in the race and that he believed he had the pace to contend for victory. Team Roberts co-principal Arney Wick praised the rider for a confident display and stressed the importance of converting this momentum into upcoming events. The team now turns its attention to the next Moto4 Latin Cup round at Interlagos in São Paulo, scheduled for April 10-12, and to a parallel program at the MotoGP calendar.
Next events and schedule
Before returning to the Latin Cup at Interlagos, Matsudaira will race in the opening round of the MotoAmerica Talent Cup at COTA, riding the Team Roberts Krämer APX-350 MA. That appearance offers another chance to gain race experience on a different stage and to sharpen skills ahead of the April round in São Paulo. The combination of short-track sprint tactics and mixed-weather learning from Goiânia will be valuable, and the team hopes to translate this early podium into consistent top results. This report reflects the events of the Goiânia weekend and the immediate calendar steps for Team Roberts and Kensei Matsudaira.
Report 2026-03-22: the team remains focused on preparation, setup refinement, and adapting strategy to variable conditions as the season continues.