MotoGP Phillip Island: race cancelled, Márquez keeps 10-point lead
The newsroomUpdated on October 25, 20263 minMotoGP at Phillip Island: the Australian GP race is cancelled with the medical helicopter grounded; Márquez stays 10 points clear of Martín in the standings.
Key point
The MotoGP race at Phillip Island never ran: medical helicopter grounded, a ceremonial lap only, and Márquez keeps a 10-point lead over Martín.
The MotoGP Australian Grand Prix did not take place at Phillip Island on Sunday 25 October 2026. After delays of several hours, race direction cancelled the MotoGP race, following the Moto3 and Moto2 races. The 18 riders only completed a ceremonial lap behind the safety car, for the last time at this circuit.
A grounded medical helicopter
The cause is a safety rule. Race director Graham Webber explained that the medical helicopter needs a window of about 60 minutes of flyable weather, both at Phillip Island and in Melbourne. Bad weather affected both locations. The rules require a hospital to be reachable within 45 minutes; Phillip Island's is more than 45 minutes away by road, so the circuit relies on air evacuation.
Paddock-GP calls it the first cancellation of this kind since Silverstone in 2018. In 2023, in similar weather, organisers moved the main race to Saturday and the Sprint to Sunday; this time no swap was made.
Márquez keeps a 10-point lead
MotoGP keeps the half points from Saturday's Sprint, with no race to add to them. In the championship, Marc Márquez has 365 points to 355 for Jorge Martín, a gap of 10 points; Marco Bezzecchi is third on 315. Martín, who fractured his right arm in a Sprint crash, was ruled out: the cancellation suits him, while Márquez loses the chance to extend the gap by 25 points.
According to Motorsport Week, Moto2 and Moto3 awarded no points over the weekend.
Crash.net stresses that most circuits meet the 45-minute rule without difficulty, which makes Phillip Island an unusual case. In Moto2, title contender Manuel González was due to start Sunday's race from pole position: his race disappeared along with the others.
A bitter farewell
Phillip Island hosted its final MotoGP race: from 2027 the Australian Grand Prix goes to Adelaide. Jack Miller, in his last home Grand Prix, had finished seventh in the Sprint, with a few wheelies. Organisers are preparing refunds: full for Sunday ticketholders, partial for multi-day tickets.
The editorial team
Frequently asked questions
Why was the MotoGP race at Phillip Island cancelled?
Bad weather grounded the medical helicopter. It needs about 60 minutes of flyable weather at Phillip Island and in Melbourne, as the hospital is more than 45 minutes away by road.
What is the impact on the MotoGP championship?
No points are awarded on Sunday. Márquez (365) leads Martín (355) by 10 points, after the half points of Saturday's Sprint.
What happens to the Australian Grand Prix?
Phillip Island hosted its final MotoGP race. From 2027 the Australian Grand Prix moves to Adelaide.
Sources
- Crash.net — the 60-minute rule that stopped MotoGP at Phillip Island
- Motorsport Week — MotoGP Australian GP cancelled
- Paddock-GP — race direction explains the cancellation
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