ORGANISERS CANCEL FINAL PHILLIP ISLAND MOTOGP RACE

Organisers cancelled the final MotoGP race at Australia’s Phillip Island circuit on Sunday after rain and poor visibility delayed track action. MotoGP said visibility limited the operation of the medical helicopter. “Limited visibility has resulted in the cancellation of the Australian MotoGP,” organisers said. They also cancelled the Moto2 and Moto3 races after postponing the day’s schedule. MotoGP said its riders would complete a farewell lap behind the safety car and stop on the main straight to greet fans.

The cancellation denied Marc Márquez a chance to extend his championship lead over Jorge Martin, who had already missed the race through injury. Martin fractured his forearm in a crash during Saturday’s sprint race, which Márquez won. Aprilia said Martin had a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius and would receive treatment over the coming days without returning to Spain for surgery. Martin remains 10 points behind Márquez with four rounds left, starting in Malaysia next week. Marco Bezzecchi sits third in the standings, 50 points behind Márquez.

Phillip Island has hosted the Australian MotoGP since 1997, and its contract expires this year. MotoGP Sports Entertainment sought to move the race to Melbourne’s Albert Park, while the Victoria state government wanted it to remain at Phillip Island. After those negotiations broke down, South Australia secured a six-year agreement to host the race in Adelaide from 2027. The move will take MotoGP to a city-centre circuit for the first time. MotoGP had planned Sunday’s race as its last at Phillip Island before the relocation.