Weather ruins MotoGP but Phillip Island goes out on high

Marc Marquez missed the final Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island due to the race being cancelled because of dangerous weather conditions. Persistent rain and poor visibility made racing unsafe, prompting organisers to cancel the race despite a full attendance. Moto3 and Moto2 races were also called off. This marked an unexpected end to MotoGP's nearly three-decade presence at Phillip Island, a waterfront circuit located two hours from Melbourne. The Australian event will now be held in a city-centre street circuit at Adelaide next year.

The cancellation was a setback for Marquez, who held a significant lead in the world championship over his injured teammate Jorge Martin. Martin had been scheduled to participate but was unable to do so due to a fractured forearm sustained during a sprint race on Saturday, won by fellow Spaniard Marquez. Martin's absence would have further widened the gap between him and the world champion, as only four rounds of the season remained. Martin would leave Australia just 10 points behind Marquez.

Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi currently sits third in the championship, 50 points behind Marquez. The extent of Martin's injury was less severe than initially feared, and he will undergo treatment without needing surgery in Spain. With a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius, the rider will not return to Spain for medical attention, allowing him to continue his recovery in Australia.

Phillip Island, known for its picturesque and often windswept conditions, has been a staple on the MotoGP calendar since 1997. However, its contract expired this year, leading to discussions about relocating the event to Melbourne's Albert Park, where the Australian Formula One race is held. Despite Victoria's government pushing for the race to remain at Phillip Island, negotiations ultimately failed, and South Australia secured the race for six years, starting in 2027 in Adelaide, the first MotoGP to be held in a city centre location.