Heavy rain cancels MotoGP swansong for sold-out Phillip Island crowd
Updated . First published at
The final dance at Phillip Island before MotoGP makes its debut in Adelaide for 2027 has been cancelled due to heavy rain, with all track action canned due to “limited visibility”.
Following 25mm of overnight rainfall and forecasts that predicted up to 35mm more throughout Sunday, poor visibility grounded the mandatory medical helicopter and halted all track action during the day.
Rain continues to fall at Phillip Island. Robert Cianflone
Due to visibility issues, any medical helicopters cannot fly, meaning track action cannot go ahead at a race until conditions clear up.
But organisers were forced to periodically cancel each session as the torrential weather did not ease up, leaving fans waiting in the weather.
The Superbikes session and the morning’s rider parade were both cancelled early, and fans were unable to watch the Legends Lap which was meant to feature prominent Aussie names in the MotoGP world including Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner, Wayne Gardner and Kevin Schwantz.
The MotoGP warm-up, originally slated for around 9am, was postponed and then cancelled.
“Limited visibility has resulted in the cancellation of the MotoGP Grand Prix race,” the category wrote in their final update around 3:45pm, nearly two hours after the race was first set to start.
“A MotoGP Riders Farewell Lap will take place at 3:45pm, finishing on the Main Straight, followed by Jack Miller joining Jet on the main stage.”
Organisers have never completely cancelled the event at Phillip Island for torrential weather, but they have made adjustments.
In 2023, MotoGP flipped the schedule and ran the full-length grand prix on Saturday, as Sunday’s sprint was cancelled due to rain.
Spanish star Marc Marquez was set to start from pole position, with Australian favourite Miller meant to launch from the second row in fifth.
Fans have been waiting in torrential rain for any track action. Robert Cianflone
Rain at the coastal track is an anticipated factor at Phillip Island, but today’s action was fans’ last time to see bikes off the Victorian peninsula.
2026 marks the end of a 30-year era before the event moves to Adelaide next year.
As the iconic track prepared to wave the chequered flag on its premier motorcycle event one last time, fans will now have to see the category leave Phillip Island without the fanfare and farewell it deserved.
The main race was scheduled for 2pm AEDT.
