Australian Grand Prix called off as rain spoils Phillip Island sendoff

Race delayed by 2 hours earlier being cancelled owed to debased visibility contempt a sellout assemblage astatine Phillip Island.

The last Australian MotoGP astatine the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit has been called disconnected owed to dense rain, ruining the farewell for 1 of the championship’s astir beloved circuits.

It was a crushing stroke for the sold-out assemblage astatine Phillip Island connected Sunday earlier the Australian Grand Prix moves to the streets of Adelaide adjacent year.

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The Moto2 and Moto3 races were cancelled first, and the MotoGP contention was delayed by 2 hours owed to the upwind earlier organisers threw successful the towel and yet called it disconnected astatine 3:40pm (04:40 GMT).

“Due to constricted visibility affecting the cognition of the aesculapian chopper the MotoGP Grand Prix contention has been cancelled,” MotoGP said successful a statement.

“The MotoGP riders volition bash a thigh down the information car and halt connected the main consecutive to greet the fans.”

Riders accidental farewell to fans successful last parade

The acheronian clouds and pelting rainfall brought down the visibility astir the circuit, affecting the aesculapian helicopter, which would instrumentality 45 minutes to scope the circuit from mainland Melbourne successful an emergency.

Other than 2 years mislaid to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seaside way southbound of Melbourne had been a fixture connected the satellite title calendar for 30 years and produced immoderate of Australian motorcycling’s astir memorable moments.

Australian two-time satellite champion Casey Stoner celebrated six wins determination successful succession from 2007 to 2012 portion compatriot Mick Doohan sealed his 5th and last satellite rubric with triumph successful the 1998 race.

The raincoat-clad fans who persevered done the precipitation were treated to a farewell thigh from the MotoGP riders, who waved arsenic they dilatory made their mode astir a soaking bedewed track.

Home racer Jack Miller did his champion to entertain his supporters with a bid of tricks, including a stand-up wheelie implicit the decorativeness line, earlier heading implicit to the grandstand and throwing his gloves and boots into the crowd.

The seaside way southbound of Melbourne had been a fixture connected the satellite title calendar for 30 years and produced immoderate of Australian motorcycling’s astir memorable moments [AFP]

Miller dejected, suspiration of alleviation for Martin

The Pramac Racing rider, a beardown performer successful the wet, chopped a dejected fig erstwhile helium was interviewed aft completing his lap.

“This is simply a pugnacious pill to swallow,” said the 31-year-old, who volition beryllium leaving MotoGP astatine the extremity of the play aft much than a decennary to articulation Pata Maxus Yamaha successful the World Superbike Championship.

“You know, I was praying for rainfall each weekend. We got the rain, but obviously, we weren’t organised capable to get the racing going, truthful it’s a pugnacious one.

“You guys merit better. Honestly, each of you person done a fantastic occupation turning retired for Phillip Island.”

Rain had been expected for the weekend, but MotoGP did not revive its 2023 strategy for the circuit erstwhile the Grand Prix was moved up to Saturday and the sprint scheduled for Sunday.

That sprint contention 3 years agone was yet called off.

The cancellation of the contention besides ended the accidental for seven-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to widen his pb successful the title standings, peculiarly aft his rubric rival Jorge Martin was declared unfit to vie successful the contention aft fracturing his wrist.

Martin held the title pb heading into the play but finds himself 10 points down Marquez aft failing to decorativeness Saturday’s sprint pursuing a gruesome crash.

On Sunday, Martin’s Aprilia squad said helium would not question backmost to Spain to acquisition treatment, however, boosting the 2024 champion’s hopes of racing astatine adjacent week’s Malaysian Grand Prix and remaining successful the rubric fight.