Australian MotoGP cancelled by rain; Márquez leads Martín by 10
Rain and low visibility grounded the medical helicopter and forced organisers to cancel the last MotoGP race at Phillip Island, leaving Marc Márquez 10 points ahead of injured Jorge Martín with four rounds left.
At a glance
- The Australian MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island was cancelled on Sunday, October 25, 2026, because rain and poor visibility stopped the medical helicopter from flying. The Moto2 and Moto3 races were also cancelled.
- No points were awarded, so Marc Márquez (Ducati) keeps a 10-point lead on 365 over Jorge Martín (Aprilia) on 355.
- Martín fractured his right wrist in Saturday's sprint, which Márquez won, and had already been ruled out of Sunday's race.
- It was the last scheduled MotoGP race at Phillip Island. The Australian round moves to an Adelaide street circuit from 2027.
- Four rounds remain: Malaysia (Oct 30–Nov 1), Qatar, Portugal and Valencia, with 148 points still available.
The Australian MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island was cancelled on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after persistent rain and poor visibility made it impossible for the medical helicopter to fly. The Moto2 and Moto3 races were also called off. With no points awarded, Marc Márquez keeps a 10-point championship lead over Jorge Martín, who was already out injured, with four rounds of the season to go.
It was an anticlimactic end to MotoGP's long history at Phillip Island. The sell-out crowd saw no main race on what was the circuit's last scheduled Grand Prix, with the Australian round moving to Adelaide from 2027.
What happened
Organisers delayed the programme through the day in the hope that conditions would clear, before announcing that "limited visibility" had forced the cancellation. Under MotoGP safety rules, races cannot run unless the medical helicopter is able to take an injured rider to hospital.
The decision was a setback for Márquez. With Martín sidelined, the Ducati rider had a chance to stretch his lead by up to 25 points. Instead, the standings remain exactly as they were after Saturday's sprint.
Championship standings
| Pos | Rider | Team | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marc Márquez | Ducati | 365 | — |
| 2 | Jorge Martín | Aprilia | 355 | -10 |
| 3 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia | 315 | -50 |
| 4 | Pedro Acosta | KTM | 263 | -102 |
| 5 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Aprilia | 259 | -106 |
| 6 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | VR46 Ducati | 252 | -113 |
Martín's injury
Martín crashed at Turn 8 while fighting Márquez for the lead in Saturday's sprint. Aprilia said he has a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius in his right wrist, meaning the bone remains aligned, and that he will be treated in Australia rather than flying home to Spain for surgery. It is not yet clear whether he will be fit for Malaysia next weekend.
Márquez's sprint win earned him the maximum 12 points and took him from 353 to 365, ahead of Martín on 355. It was the ninth change of championship leader this season, the most in a single MotoGP season since 2002.
Background: farewell to Phillip Island
Phillip Island, on the coast south of Melbourne, has hosted Grand Prix motorcycle racing for decades and is regarded by many riders as one of the best circuits in the world. Its contract ends this year. Talks to move the race to Melbourne's Albert Park broke down after the Victoria state government insisted it stay at Phillip Island, and South Australia then signed a six-year deal to host the event in Adelaide from 2027 on a city-centre street circuit, a first for MotoGP.
Weather has disrupted the event before: the 2019 qualifying session was moved because of strong winds and the 2023 sprint was cancelled.
What it means for the title fight
Each remaining round is worth up to 37 points (12 for the sprint and 25 for the Grand Prix), so 148 points are still available. Márquez, a seven-time premier-class champion, has a narrow cushion rather than the commanding lead he might have had, while Martín, the 2024 champion, now has a week to recover. Bezzecchi, 50 points behind, is the only other rider with a realistic chance.
What happens next
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Malaysian GP, Sepang | October 30 – November 1 |
| Qatar GP, Lusail | November 6–8 |
| Portuguese GP, Portimão | November 13–15 |
| Valencia GP | November 20–22 |
The Qatar round is still not fully certain, as some riders have objected to racing there this year. Malaysia, a week away, will show whether Martín can ride and how much ground Márquez can gain.
Questions people are asking
Why was the 2026 Australian MotoGP cancelled?
Organisers cancelled the race on October 25, 2026, because persistent rain and limited visibility meant the medical helicopter could not operate safely, and races cannot run without it.
Who leads the MotoGP championship after Australia?
Marc Márquez leads with 365 points, 10 ahead of Jorge Martín on 355 and 50 ahead of Marco Bezzecchi on 315, with four rounds left.
When is the next MotoGP race?
The next round is the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang from October 30 to November 1, 2026, followed by Qatar, Portugal and the season finale in Valencia on November 20–22.
