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Marc Marquez expressed confidence that the track conditions at Phillip Island were suitable for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix to go ahead. According to the six-time world champion, the race could have taken place safely had the adverse weather not prevented the medical helicopter from operating.
Sunday's MotoGP premier-class race was officially cancelled following a series of delays caused by torrential rain and reduced visibility. While most circuits on the calendar have alternative ground medical transport available, the distance between Phillip Island and Melbourne makes air evacuation essential should an injured rider require immediate hospital care.
Following smooth running during Friday and Saturday's sessions, the weather deteriorated sharply on Sunday with strong wind gusts and persistent rain. Despite the conditions, Marquez conducted a two-lap track inspection behind the safety car after the official cancellation, concluding that the tarmac offered sufficient grip.
"I feel truly sorry for all the fans at Phillip Island, as such a legendary track didn't deserve its final race to end this way. The track conditions were completely fine, but unfortunately, the medical helicopter couldn't fly, so the cancellation was made purely out of safety concerns. As riders, we were ready to fight, but today the circumstances were against us. A huge thank you to the fans for their incredible support," Marquez told the official MotoGP website.
The premature ending brings down the curtain on the 4.4-kilometre circuit's tenure on the World Championship calendar, with the Australian round set to relocate to a revamped street circuit in Adelaide next season.
The Spaniard had taken victory in Saturday's sprint race following a thrilling battle with Jorge Martin, who crashed out on lap eight. The Aprilia rider sustained a fractured arm and was ruled unfit to race on Sunday, which would have allowed Marquez to significantly extend his championship advantage over the full race distance.
Ducati factory team manager Davide Tardozzi also admitted that the squad missed out on a prime winning opportunity, given Marquez's commanding 1.5-second pole margin in Saturday's wet conditions. Nevertheless, the team boss stood firmly behind the race direction's call.
"It's clear Ducati missed a golden opportunity. In these conditions, Marc was the clear favourite and knew he was in contention for the full 25 points, but safety comes before everything — above sport and above business. Having personally experienced the moment Carl Fogarty's career ended here, I never want to witness another severe crash. When it comes to the riders' health, there are no compromises," Tardozzi insisted.
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