AUSTRALIAN GP CANCELLED: MILLER’S PARENTS WANTED A FIVE-LAP RACE

The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter from operating between Phillip Island and mainland Melbourne. The poor weather had been forecast since the start of the week, but MotoGP did not move the race to Saturday. The championship’s final visit to Phillip Island ended without Sunday track action; fans saw only a farewell parade lap under the safety car. Moto2 and Moto3 were also cancelled. Organisers considered delaying the MotoGP race until 4pm local time, but the pit lane never opened.

Casey Stoner, Australia’s last MotoGP world champion, was at the circuit for the occasion and said the curtailed farewell “breaks my heart”. Jack Miller, who was due to start his final home MotoGP race from a season-best fifth place, told the crowd that they “deserved better”. He had been set to race in a special livery marking the occasion.

Saturday’s Sprint nevertheless went ahead and counted for points, significantly affecting the MotoGP title battle. Marc Marquez won after taking pole in wet qualifying, while the track had dried by race time. Some riders reportedly felt the weather was “seeking revenge” on Phillip Island as the venue prepares to leave the calendar. The Australian Grand Prix is scheduled to move to a new Adelaide street circuit in 2027, a change that has drawn criticism over rider safety and the construction required. Phillip Island’s future return to MotoGP remains a hope for many.

The weekend also underlined patterns that had emerged during the season at Aprilia. Phillip Island had hosted premier-class racing for more than three decades and had been a permanent fixture since 1997, apart from the pandemic interruption in 2020 and 2021. It will remain on the World Superbike calendar until 2028, with the circuit due to host that championship’s season opener in February.