Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix changed from Sunday to Saturday due to forecast wind gusts of 80kmh

The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has been moved forward a full day due to inclement weather— with fans given the option of a full refund.

PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 20: Johann Zarco of France and the Prima Pramac Racing Team in action during free practice ahead of the 2023 MotoGP of Australia at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on October 20, 2023 in Phillip Island, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Forecast wind gusts of up to 80kmh on Sunday has forced MotoGP authorities to bring the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix forward a day to Saturday.

The unprecedented move comes amid concern for rider safety on Sunday when the forecast was for high winds and showers.

A ticketing change was announced late Friday, with fans who had grandstand tickets for Sunday granted general admission access on Saturday, and can retain their Sunday entitlements.

The Saturday half-distance sprint has been swapped to the spot on the Sunday schedule.

A statement by race control said the expected “inclement weather” had forced the change.

“This decision has been taken proactively in order to guarantee the best and safest possible show for all competitors and fans attending Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend,’’ the statement said.

Johann Zarco of France during free practice ahead of the 2023 MotoGP at Phillip Island. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The 27-lap Grand Prix will be held at 3.10pm on Saturday while the 13-lap sprint is scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, weather permitting.

Patrons will also get a refund on the difference between the cost of a general admission ticket on Saturday and their grandstand seat value.

And anyone with a Sunday ticket who can’t attend on Saturday will be eligible for a full refund.

Similar changes apply to Sunday general admission patrons.

They will be granted access to the circuit on Saturday, and will also maintain their Sunday entitlements.

And if they cannot attend on Saturday, they can get a full refund of their Sunday

ticket, and may still attend on Sunday if racing is possible.

The corporation said the decision was made after consultation with Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos.

The refund process would be handled by Ticketmaster, the statement said.

It is not clear of any refunds yet for three-day ticket holders but that could depend on how much racing is completed on Sunday.

The prospect of no racing at all on Sunday because of bad weather appears to be a possibility.

The times for the Moto3 and Moto2 races on Sunday have not changed.

MotoGP fans whohave tickets on Sunday and cannot attend Saturday will get a full refund. Picture: Mirco Lazzari.

The change will affect many motorcycle racing fans’ plans for the weekend, with Sunday the busiest day.

More than 19,000 attended the practice sessions at the island on Friday, but bigger numbers were expected on the weekend, especially with Aussie Jack Miller second-fastest in opening practice on the factory KTM bike.

Last year’s total three-day attendance was more than 91,000.

Carlos Ezpeleta, the chief sporting officer at Dorna, the sports rights holder, said the decision was made with the agreement of all the teams.

“It’s been a unanimous decision to switch ... the sprint from Saturday to Sunday and then the main race from Sunday to Saturday on more or less the same times.

“This is to secure our most important race of the weekend.’’

Further checks on the weather will be made on Sunday morning to see if the MotoGP sprint, Moto2 and Moto3 races can proceed. The Moto3 is the first race, scheduled to start at 11am.

Mr Ezpeleta said it was possible there would be more changes on Sunday and that the MotoGP warm-up would give indication of the conditions .

The events will again throw the viability of the Phillip Island round in future into doubt.

While the track is much loved by riders, the weather always plays a part - heavy rain caused chaos on Saturday last year, and heavy winds forced the cancellation of practice in 2019.

Mr Ezpeleta said, while not a local, the weather was often unpredictable unless in January or February which is not usually part of the MotoGP season.

The shock decision came after Aussie Jack Miller and his KTM teammate Brad Binder blitzed the timesheets on the opening day at the Island.

The KTM one-two capped a dramatic session with Marc Marquez sliding off his factory Honda at Turn 10 while defending champion Pecco Bagnaia was in 11th and will miss the Q2

qualifying session.

South African Binder clocked 1min 27.943sec with hometown Miller just 0.148sec behind, raising local fans’ hopes for both the Saturday sprint and the Sunday Grand Prix.

Phillip Island specialist Maverick Vinales improved as the afternoon progressed on the factory Aprilia to be third quickest, just ahead of championship challenger Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati.

Less than one second covered the first 17 riders and at least eight riders took turns to top the timesheets in the afternoon session as lap times fell.

Aussie Jack Miller blitzed the timesheets on the opening day at the Island. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartaro, the 2021 champion, was left stranded down in 17th position after his last flying lap was obstructed at Turn 10 by GasGas’s Augusto Fernandez who was in slowdown mode.

Quartararo was furious and the incident was being reviewed by race control.

GasGas rider Pol Espargaro was surprisingly up in fifth spot, while Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is being replaced by Marquez at Gresini Ducati and without a ride in 2024, impressed possible suitors with a seventh place.

The opening track sessions for all three classes were held in near perfect conditions, in front of an estimated attendance of 19,150 fans.

In morning practice, Martin had been quickest, ahead of Fernandez and Vinales, the trio being the only riders under 1 Min 30sec.

Fernandez’s 1min 29.759sec was a remarkable result as it was his first outing on the track in MotoGP class.

The teams will be keeping an eye on the island weather on Saturday with a cloudy cooler day forecast with winds increasing and the chance of showers in the afternoon.