Marco Bezzecchi wanted to race even on a wet track, but Sunday’s MotoGP race at Phillip Island never got underway. Poor weather kept the medical helicopter from flying, making a start impossible. Francesco Bagnaia and Pedro Acosta also wanted to compete in the conditions, yet the race could not proceed without the required medical cover.

Bezzecchi’s main concern afterwards was the disappointment for the spectators. Phillip Island is a historic venue for Australian fans, and reaching it is difficult for many of those who make the trip. The crowd waited through rain from the morning into the afternoon while race direction looked for a safe opportunity to run the race. That window never came, but many supporters remained at the circuit and joined the parade lap, applauding the riders. The 2026 weekend was also Phillip Island’s final MotoGP event before the round moves to an urban circuit in Adelaide in 2027.

The cancellation denied Bezzecchi the chance to build on a competitive weekend. He had arrived as one of the pre-race contenders after setting the fastest time at Phillip Island the previous year, when a double long-lap penalty stopped him from fighting for victory. Wet qualifying put him on the third row, but he recovered to fourth in the Sprint. Marc Marquez won that race, while Jorge Martin crashed out. Since the Sprint was the only result added to the championship, Bezzecchi went to Malaysia 50 points adrift in the standings. He still regarded his Sprint performance as a positive, although qualifying continued to frustrate him.