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ORGANIZERS have cancelled the 2026 Australian MotoGP races at the Phillip Island Circuit in Victoria this Sunday, following the earlier cancellation of the Moto2 and Moto3 events. The decision was prompted by severe weather that rendered medical helicopters—a critical component of race safety protocols—unable to operate.
According to an official statement from MotoGP, the decision was made after visibility conditions around the circuit failed to improve due to heavy rain and fog.
The adverse weather prevented the medical helicopters from being deployed, a facility that is an essential part of the safety procedures required for hosting the races.
Initially, organizers had planned to proceed with the premier MotoGP class race, scheduled for 16:30 local time (12:30 WIB), even though the Moto2 and Moto3 races had already been called off.
However, the persistent, unfavorable weather conditions ultimately forced organizers to cancel all racing activities for the day. In lieu of the races, the riders were scheduled to take part in a farewell lap around the Phillip Island Circuit.
This activity also marked the conclusion of the Australian MotoGP’s tenure at Phillip Island, which has served as the host venue since 1989.
The 2026 season marks the final time the Australian MotoGP will be held at this circuit, with the event set to move to the Adelaide Street Circuit starting in 2027.
Concerns regarding the weather at Phillip Island had already emerged on Saturday (October 24). Heavy rain, which began falling on the circuit area on Sunday morning, resulted in thick fog and severely limited visibility.
These conditions meant that organizers could not guarantee the operational readiness of medical helicopters to respond to potential emergencies.
The cancellation of all races also meant that Indonesian rider Veda Ega Pratama was unable to compete in the 2026 Australian Moto3 race, despite having secured pole position during the qualifying session. Veda previously made history as the first Indonesian rider to secure pole position in a motorcycle Grand Prix event.
Meanwhile, another Indonesian rider, Mario Aji, was also unable to compete in the Moto2 race after organizers cancelled that class. Following the cancellation of the Australian GP, the 2026 MotoGP World Championship is scheduled to continue with the Malaysian GP at the Sepang Circuit, running from October 30 to November 1.
In the current MotoGP standings, Marc Marquez of Ducati Lenovo leads with 365 points. Marquez holds a 10-point advantage over Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing, who sits in second place with 355 points. [antaranews/photo special]
