THE 30-year tenure of Phillip Island’s world-famous grand prix circuit, hosting the Australian round of the World MotoGP, is over in sensationally unspectacular fashion.
Constant rain overnight, and throughout the day on race-day Sunday forced organisers to announced a delayed start time initially and then delay after delay as the notoriously fickle October Phillip Island weather had one last, tragic trick to play.
Ultimately, at around 4pm on Sunday, which was to have seen the grand finale of a much-loved major event, one that generates $30 million for the local economy each year, organisers finally called time.
It wasn’t just the weather that was against
And it wasn’t just the weather that was against Phillip Island on the day, and potentially throughout its tenure, but also the circuit’s proximity to a major hospital, notwithstanding the official opening during the past week of the new Phillip Island Community Hospital with its 24‑hour Urgent Care Centre.
Earlier in the day, MotoGP Race Director Graham Webber explained the situation at Phillip Island.
“So essentially, at the moment, there’s a limitation on the medical helicopter to fly. Like I say, there’s bad weather in Melbourne and here, and so there’s actually two places that we need to be able to say ‘go’ basically,” said Webber.
So, that helicopter needs a window of around
“So, that helicopter needs a window of around 60 minutes in both places, Phillip Island and Melbourne, in order for us to start the race.
“Again, just based on safety, we need to make sure that if we do have any issues that we’re covered, that we can get a rider quickly to hospital.
“Generally, with most circuits we can use the road, so like with an ambulance, but unfortunately because the distance to the hospital is over 45 minutes, essentially, we have to rely on that helicopter, and therefore we’re really held by the weather.
So yeah, it’s a shame really but it’s
“So yeah, it’s a shame really but it’s unusual. Like I say, most circuits we can reach a hospital within 45 minutes, which is our regulation. But here in Phillip Island, the hospital is further than 45 minutes by road. Therefore, we have to rely on the air ambulance.
The official announcement from the MotoGP organisers was as follows:
“Due to limited visibility affecting the operation of the medical helicopter at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia, the MotoGP Grand Prix race, in addition to the Moto2 and Moto3 races, has been cancelled.
“As a farewell to Phillip Island, the MotoGP riders will do a parade lap behind the safety car and stop on the main straight to greet the fans. The pit lane will open for the farewell lap at 15:45 local time.”
The riders made one last, sad lap around
So, the riders made one last, sad lap around the circuit by safety car as loyal Phillip Island GP fans looked on but it was no where near the end that everyone wanted to see from an event that has thrown up so many year’s of great racing, with the thrills and ultimately the spills that come from racing around a picturesque, winding, purpose-built motor racing circuit at well over 300km/hour.
The modern era of racing at Phillip Island began in 1989. Since then, there have been three winning Australian riders… Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner.
This year’s event was to have been Jack Miller’s swan song before he moved to Superbikes, but after performing strongly in practice and finishing seventh in the sprint race on Saturday, the noted wet-track rider was expected to push for a podium finish on Sunday.
But it wasn’t to be.
There was no fairytale finish for what has been a richly storied era of motorbike racing on Phillip Island, the like of which we may never see again… hopefully not in October at any rate.
UpdatedOctober 25, 2026 6:20 pm | a few seconds ago
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