Phillip Island’s farewell MotoGP washed out: what happened and what fans get back
Motorcycle News ·
Phillip Island’s last MotoGP was supposed to be a send-off after more than three decades on the Bass Coast. Instead, Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix on 25 October 2026 was cancelled without a lap raced, after poor visibility kept the medical helicopter on the ground.
How the day unfolded
The MotoGP race was scheduled for 2pm. It was pushed back while officials waited for the weather to lift, with a provisional 4:30pm start. The Moto2 and Moto3 races, the Australian Superbike race and the morning warm-up had already been called off, along with the trackside entertainment. That included a legends lap with Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner and Wayne Gardner.
The cancellation was confirmed at about 3:30pm. Many fans had been in the stands in the rain since early morning, after hours of traffic, muddy car parks and bus transfers from Cowes.
Why they couldn’t race
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) said poor visibility stopped the medical helicopter from operating safely. “Safety must always come first, and racing cannot take place without the medical helicopter able to operate,” it said.
Race Director Graham Webber said the race needed a window of about 60 minutes in which the helicopter could fly at both Phillip Island and Melbourne, and the weather never gave them one. Transferring injured riders by road wasn’t a workable alternative from the circuit. Officials also said nothing in Saturday’s forecast suggested the race should be moved forward a day.
What the riders said
Instead of a race, riders did parade laps behind the safety car and stopped on Gardner Straight to thank the crowd. Jack Miller wore a “Thanks Phillip Island” helmet and did a burnout at Turn 4.
- Jack Miller: “You guys deserve better.”
- Senna Agius: “Gutted not to send it one last time around the Island.”
- Joel Kelso: said it was “a shame to not be able to put on a show for the home crowd here”.
- Fabio Di Giannantonio: “I love so much Phillip Island, so I made all the parade lap in tears.”
- Brad Binder: “A pity, and I feel sorry for the people that sat in the rain from 8am.”
- Pedro Acosta: “A sad finish to the final GP in Phillip Island but we should be happy for all the good racing.”
Not everyone was happy with the process. Francesco Bagnaia said riders weren’t consulted, though he accepted the final call belonged to officials.
The championship
Saturday’s Sprint did run. Marc Márquez won it from Alex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio, and he leaves Australia leading Jorge Martín 365 points to 355. Martín crashed out of the Sprint, so Sunday’s race could have stretched the gap. With the race cancelled, it stays at 10 points.
Refunds: what ticketholders get
- Sunday tickets: full refund.
- Multi-day tickets: partial refund. The AGPC hasn’t yet said how much.
The AGPC says it is working through the process with its ticketing partners. Watch for an email from wherever you bought your tickets, and check that any refund message really comes from the AGPC or the official seller before you click a link.
What it means for Australian fans
The Australian Grand Prix now moves to an Adelaide street circuit, starting on 12–14 November 2027. If Phillip Island was your annual ride, next year’s trip is a much longer one for riders in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. We’ll cover the Adelaide plans, and when tickets are likely to go on sale, in a separate story.
Sources
- ABC News — Final MotoGP race at Phillip Island washed out
- MCNews — Australian MotoGP cancelled as weather denies Phillip Island its farewell race
- MCNews — Tears and thanks as MotoGP riders react
- AMCN — Aussie GP riders react as Phillip Island robbed of farewell
Featured image: Jack Miller at Phillip Island in 2019, from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (motogp.com.au).
Details checked 30 October 2026. Refund terms come from the AGPC, so confirm them with your ticket seller.
