Visibility ends Phillip Island MotoGP era before Adelaide move

Organisers cancelled the Australian MotoGP at 3:30pm on 25 October 2026 after rain and poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter from flying.

The race had already been pushed back from its scheduled 2pm start, with organisers hoping to get it under way at 4:30pm. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation eventually confirmed that it would not take place.

1. 2pmPlanned start

   The MotoGP race was due to begin.

2. 3:30pmCancellation

   Organisers called off the delayed race.

3. 3:45pmFarewell lap

   A MotoGP riders farewell lap was being held.

4. 4:30pmHoped-for restart

   Organisers had hoped the race could begin at this time.

Race organisers said: "Limited visibility has resulted in the cancellation of the Australian MotoGP".

Fans remained in the stands for hours in the rain before the announcement, and organisers proceeded with the cancellation despite a sell-out crowd.

The helicopter is part of the event's safety arrangements. Without it able to fly, the race could not proceed in the conditions, according to the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

The poor visibility disrupted more than the main race. The Moto3 and Moto2 events were also cancelled, while the Australian Superbikes race three had already been called off earlier in the day.

The official morning warm-up was cancelled as well. Trackside plans affected by the weather and programme changes included monster trucks and a celebratory legends lap featuring world champions Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner and Wayne Gardner.

A planned MotoGP riders farewell lap was being held at 3:45pm. Jack Miller was pictured farewelling fans after the cancellation.

The corporation said it would provide full refunds to Sunday ticketholders and partial refunds to people holding multi-day tickets. The pack does not establish whether those arrangements have been processed.

The cancellation made this the last MotoGP race at Phillip Island. The circuit had appeared on the calendar since 1997, and its contract expires this year.

Phillip Island is a waterfront track on the Bass Coast at Ventnor, two hours from Melbourne. The Australian round is scheduled to move to a city-centre street circuit in Adelaide in 2027.

South Australia secured the race for six years from 2027 in Adelaide. It will be the first MotoGP held in a city-centre location.

The change followed a dispute over the event's future. MotoGP Sports Entertainment said it wanted to move the race to Albert Park in Melbourne, the venue for the Australian Formula One, while the Victoria state government insisted it remain at Phillip Island. Negotiations broke down.

The exact timing and implementation details of the move to Adelaide remain unclear because the sources use different wording about when the relocation will happen.

The cancelled race also removed Marc Márquez's chance to extend his world championship advantage over Jorge Martin. Martin had already been ruled out after fracturing his forearm in a crash during Saturday's sprint, which was won by his fellow Spaniard.

Martin leaves Australia 10 points behind Márquez. Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi remains third, 50 points behind Márquez, and four legs of the season remain.

Aprilia said: "The only confirmed injury is a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius". In plain terms, the broken wrist bone remains aligned rather than shifting out of position.

Aprilia said: "Consequently the rider will not be returning to Spain and will undergo the necessary treatment over the coming days." The break was less serious than first thought and did not need surgery.

It remains unknown whether Martin will be fit to ride at Sepang in Malaysia the following week.

The championship is due to resume the following week in Malaysia, with four legs of the season remaining.