MotoGP’s final Phillip Island race begins amid close title fight

MotoGP’s 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island is the circuit’s final race on the championship calendar before the event moves to Adelaide in 2027. The weekend begins with Jorge Martin leading Marc Marquez by two points in the riders’ standings, while forecasts call for a high chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday. The race marks the end of Phillip Island’s run on the MotoGP calendar, where it has been a fixture since 1997. Adelaide is set to host the Australian round from 2027 under a six-year arrangement, with the race planned for a city-centre circuit. Marquez, a four-time MotoGP winner at Phillip Island, said the final outing would be emotional. He arrives behind Martin in the standings and described the circuit’s layout as unique. Martin said his team would aim to perform well at the track’s farewell. The two riders missed last year’s Australian race because of injuries. The championship battle also includes Marco Bezzecchi, who won the most recent race in Indonesia. He is 44 points behind Marquez, according to the pre-event standings. With five rounds remaining, the weekend offers another opportunity for the title contenders to gain ground, although the race...