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MotoGP's Final Phillip Island Race Canceled Due to Weather
· Confirmed
In Short: MotoGP's final race at Phillip Island was canceled due to heavy rain and poor visibility, dashing hopes for a memorable farewell.
The final MotoGP race at Phillip Island was canceled due to heavy rain and poor visibility, with 7NEWS (Australia) reporting that the decision was made just before 4pm local time.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and 7NEWS (Australia) both noted that the cancellation was especially tough for Australian rider Jack Miller, who was looking to become the first Australian to win the main race since 2012.
According to 7NEWS (Australia), riders did a final lap behind the safety car to commemorate the end of an era that stretches back to 1989, with the exception of a five-year stint in Sydney and two years of recess during the pandemic.
ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia) reported that the race will move to a street circuit in Adelaide, South Australia in 2027, after three decades at Phillip Island.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and 7NEWS (Australia) both highlighted that the cancellation was due to the inability of the medical helicopter to operate safely, as Phillip Island is located over 45 minutes by road from the nearest medical facility.
Motorcyclesports and Motorsport.com reported that the Moto3 and Moto2 races were also canceled before the final decision to cancel the MotoGP race itself.
The Race and Motorsportweek noted that race organizers had previously managed to swap the main race to Saturday and move the Sprint to Sunday under similar weather conditions in 2023.
Speedcafe.com quoted Ducati team principal Davide Tardozzi as saying, 'Mainly for the fans, ending up like that is not what we want,' and that the weather was bad but the helicopter could not come from Melbourne.
Motogp.com reported that Graham Webber, MotoGP’s Race Director, emphasized the critical nature of the situation, stating that the medical helicopter was indispensable due to the remote location of Phillip Island.
Despite the disappointment, MotoGP riders completed two parade laps behind the safety car and stopped on the main straight to greet the fans still packing the hillsides and grandstands.
In summary, all outlets agreed that the final MotoGP race at Phillip Island was canceled due to heavy rain and poor visibility, affecting the medical helicopter's ability to operate safely. The cancellation was a disappointment for fans and riders alike, marking the end of an era at the iconic track.
What this adds
The cancellation highlights the challenges of holding major sporting events in remote locations with unpredictable weather conditions.
What's confirmed
- At 3.40pm the worst fears were confirmed when it announced this year’s main race had been binned.
- The Australian MotoGP’s farewell to Phillip Island was abruptly cancelled due to sodden weather conditions – a bittersweet swansong to the beloved track after 30 years.
What's still developing
- “As we wait for visibility to improve, the new provisional pit lane opening time for the MotoGP Grand Prix at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia is now 16.00 local time,” MotoGP said earlier on Sunday.
- The injury meant he could’ve fallen further behind in the championship race after surrendering the lead to reigning champion Marc Marquez.
- Phillip Island has been robbed of its final MotoGP event for the the foreseeable future, with organisers cancelling the race amid shocking weather in the Victorian beach town.
- The final Australian MotoGP at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit has been called off due to heavy rain, ruining the farewell for one of the championship’s most beloved circuits.
- “This is a tough pill to swallow,” said the 31-year-old, who will be leaving MotoGP at the end of the season after more than a decade to join Pata Maxus Yamaha in the World Superbike Championship.
- Already ruled out following his Sprint crash, the Aprilia rider had faced watching Marc Marquez race for as many as another 25 points while he was unable to answer.
- However, 25 minutes before pitlane was due to open, the championship announced that the race had been called off.
- "Pitlane will open for the farewell lap at 15:45 local time." Track action for the day was due to kick off at 9:40am with the MotoGP warm-up.
- Race Direction first called off the Moto3 and Moto2 events before making the final call to cancel the premier-class Grand Prix.
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- Updated October 25, 2026 — 6:04pm, first published 3:45pm You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
- Motorsport fans Noor Babar and Ayra Farukh said they appreciated organisers had “tried as well as they could” to save the day, but admitted today’s result was upsetting.