A bold call for change is being led by Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia, who is advocating for a shift in the MotoGP calendar for the Australian Grand Prix. With strong winds forecast for Sunday at Phillip Island, Bagnaia and other riders are concerned about the safety of racing in such conditions.
"I think that a good solution will be to make the long race tomorrow," Bagnaia stated during his media briefing. He plans to bring this issue to the attention of the safety commission, as wind speeds of up to 50km/h are expected on race day.
This isn't the first time such a move has been considered. In 2023, MotoGP advanced the Melbourne race to Saturday due to similar weather predictions. While the grand prix ran safely on Saturday, the sprint race was later canceled when it was moved to Sunday, when the weather was at its most challenging.
Bagnaia's concerns are shared by his Honda counterpart, Luca Marini, who warned of potential incidents in the lower classes. "I hope that somebody will take the decision before seeing Moto2 riders crash," Marini said. "It's better to be more careful and prioritize safety, especially on a track like Phillip Island where crashes can be heavy."
Yamaha's Alex Rins also supports discussing the issue in the safety commission, even before his first laps at the circuit. "We'll definitely talk about it on Friday," Rins said. "We've done the main race on Saturday before, and Sunday was canceled. Let's see what happens this time."
The decision to move the race to Saturday could be a controversial one, as it may impact the traditional race day schedule. However, the safety of the riders and the potential for a fair and exciting race must be the priority. What do you think? Should MotoGP consider moving the Australian Grand Prix to Saturday? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
