Rain Reigns Supreme: Australian MotoGP’s Free Practice 1 Cancelled Amid Torrential Downpour

The first practice session at the Australian MotoGP has been called off due to heavy rain. The downpour disrupted the start of the 2024 event's practice runs.

The first practice session for the 2024 Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island faced delays and was ultimately canceled because of heavy rain.

As predicted, Friday started off rainy, and the weather worsened by the conclusion of the Moto2 free practice session.

The start of MotoGP FP1 had to be delayed because the BMW Safety Car was creating splashes while evaluating the track's conditions.

According to numerous cyclists, the issue was not just the amount of rainfall but also the fact that it appeared to be accumulating on the surface of the fresh asphalt instead of seeping through.

Star athlete Jack Miller shared with Simon Crafar in the pitlane: "We're experiencing the true essence of Phillip Island! The past two days have been amazing, but now we're seeing the less pleasant side!"

A huge thank you to the supporters. It's unfortunate that we haven't started yet, but we're hopeful for a break in the rain to allow the water to drain away. Right now, the conditions resemble a city of aquaplaning.

"Thankful for the new asphalt, though it causes the water to pool on the surface."

Following nearly a two-hour wait, the Race Direction declared that the pit lane would open at 12:25, causing some riders to exchange worried glances. However, the decision was quickly overturned, and an additional postponement was communicated.

Loris Capirossi, who is the Safety Officer for Dorna and was in charge of the safety car, stated, "Once the rain began to let up, the track conditions were improving. However, the issue arose when heavy rain resumed, causing aquaplaning. It's advisable to delay until the rain subsides."

The first practice session was officially called off shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time.

An updated timetable has not been released yet, but rain is anticipated throughout the day. This brings uncertainty about this afternoon's Practice session, which is crucial for determining the top 10 riders who will gain direct entry into Qualifying 2.

Saturday is expected to be dry but breezy, while Sunday is anticipated to provide the most favorable weather for the Australian MotoGP weekend.

Missing out on dry track time on Friday prevents teams and riders from collecting essential data on slick tires. This data is crucial due to Michelin's broader tire selection, introduced in reaction to the new asphalt at Phillip Island.

The soft rear slick tire, which was the medium option chosen by most racers in last year's race, features a standard design. Meanwhile, the medium and hard rear tires are built with a sturdier, more heat-resistant structure, similar to the ones previously utilized at Mandalika.

Michelin is optimistic that the 13-lap Sprint on Saturday will take place in dry conditions, as this will allow them to assess the performance of the soft rear tire on the freshly laid asphalt.

In response to a predicted storm, last year's Australian MotoGP event was rescheduled to Saturday afternoon, taking the slot initially reserved for the Sprint.

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