Phillip Island may have already witnessed its final MotoGP race, with torrential rain and poor visibility bringing Sunday’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix programme to a standstill.
With little relief forecast until late afternoon, there is a growing possibility that Saturday’s Sprint race, won by Marc Marquez, will be the last MotoGP action at the famous circuit for the foreseeable future.
The Australian Grand Prix moves to a new street circuit in Adelaide in 2027, bringing an end to Phillip Island’s long association with the world championship.
Standing water is an obvious concern,
Standing water is an obvious concern, but the more immediate problem is the medical intervention helicopter, which cannot operate because of poor visibility.
Without an operational medical helicopter, racing cannot resume.
MotoGP initially indicated that track activity could resume around 11am, beginning with the premier class warm-up, but any restart remains dependent on improved conditions.
Weather forecast offers little encouragement
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting between 15 and 35mm of rain at Phillip Island on Sunday, with a 100 per cent chance of rain and a maximum temperature of just 18 degrees Celsius.
Winds are expected to reach 35km/h, while
Winds are expected to reach 35km/h, while the heaviest rain is forecast to ease only during the evening.
The Bureau’s detailed forecast gives a 90 per cent chance of rain at 2pm, when the MotoGP race is scheduled to begin, and an 80 per cent chance at 5pm.
The combination of heavy rain, strong winds and poor visibility leaves organisers with a narrowing window to complete Sunday’s programme.
The final Australian Superbike Championship race, scheduled for 9am, has already been abandoned.
Determined MotoGP fans shelter beneath umbrellas as they
Determined MotoGP fans shelter beneath umbrellas as they wait for the gates to open at Phillip Island, with heavy rain threatening to wash out the circuit’s final Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Image: Andrew Clarke
Sunday’s programme was due to feature Moto3 at 11am, Moto2 at 12.15pm and the main MotoGP race at 2pm, but all face significant disruption.
The weather threatens to deny Phillip Island a fitting farewell after decades of memorable Grand Prix racing, beginning with its first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1989 and its return as the event’s permanent home in 1997.
For now, officials are waiting for conditions to improve, but with the forecast offering little encouragement, there is a very real possibility that Phillip Island’s MotoGP era ended with Marquez’s Sprint victory on Saturday afternoon.
