The MotoGP title fight remains finely poised after Sunday’s racing was cancelled due to poor weather, ensuring the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island didn’t receive a fitting send off.
The cancellation, which was caused by poor visibility in the south of Victoria, hands the injured Jorge Martin a lifeline. The Spaniard cracked a bone in his right wrist in a fast Saturday crash, and was ruled out of Sunday’s action.
As a result of today’s weather, Marc Marquez was unable to add to his ten-point championship lead today, which means there is all still to play for.
Acosta rues missed opportunity
Pedro Acosta was frustrated by Sunday’s events after losing an opportunity to add to his MotoGP podium haul in 2026.
The 22-year old had a strong weekend up until race day, as he qualified seventh before finishing Saturday’s Sprint in a competitive fifth, just three seconds off victory.
The one-time MotoGP race victor was also confident that wet conditions would provide him with a better chance of fighting with the Aprilia of Marc Bezzecchi and Ducatis of Marc and Alex Marquez on Sunday.
Still, Acosta can reflect on a weekend in which he retook fourth in the MotoGP World Championship, and still has a chance of snatching third in the final four rounds.
There was further disappointment for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder. The South African enjoyed one of his best MotoGP Sprint performances of the year on Saturday and felt the wet conditions could offer up a chance for another good result.
Poor visibility causes Phillip Island cancellation
As expected, steady rain fell on Phillip Island throughout Sunday morning, which meant racing for the day was delayed in the hope conditions would clear.
Race organisers stated the problem was not the rain itself. Instead, the poor visibility on both Phillip Island and the nearby city of Melbourne prevented the safe arrival and departure of medical helicopters.
As the visibility failed to improve, MotoGP’s initial race start time of 14:00 local time was pushed back on two occasions before it was eventually decided to cancel the race.
The decision was tough considering the Phillip Island Circuit had a sold-out attendance for today before the Australian Grand Prix moves to Adelaide for 2027.
To show their gratitude to the fans that stuck around all day, the MotoGP riders took part in a parade lap on their MotoGP machines.
MotoGP Championship fight on a knife edge
Today’s cancellation means the 2026 MotoGP Championship remains incredibly tight. Marc Marquez’s Sprint victory on Saturday meant he raced into a ten-point championship lead.
The reigning MotoGP World Champion had hopes of extending that lead on Sunday. Not only did he show incredible speed in wet conditions here, by taking pole position on Saturday by 1.5s; his chief rival Jorge Martin was unable to race.
Martin suffered a fracture in his right wrist in a terrifying 240kph crash on Saturday, which ruled him out of the rest of the weekend.
But the Aprilia rider’s condition is not as bad as first feared. He will not have surgery on the wrist and is hopeful of taking part at the Malaysian Grand Prix next weekend.
As a result, just ten points cover Marquez and Martin with four rounds of 2026 still to go. Marco Bezzecchi is still in touch, too, 50 points back of Marquez.
Next up in the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, which will run from 30th September to November 1st.
