Attending the Phillip Island Grand Prix in Australia was an incredible experience, and one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. From scorching temperatures to behind-the-scenes paddock access, it was a weekend full of highlights — even if Mother Nature had other plans for Sunday!

Thursday and Friday were absolutely boiling. The sort of heat that makes you question every life choice that led you to standing out in the sun watching motorcycles go around a track. Naturally, I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else!

Saturday was where things really got exciting. I was lucky enough to win a pit box tour with Ducati, which was an amazing opportunity to get a closer look behind the scenes. Getting to see Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia heading out for FP2 was a definite highlight.

Qualifying 2 was spent in the LCR Honda box, which was a pretty special place to watch the action unfold. Even better, Johann Zarco secured a front-row start! After qualifying, we headed to parc fermé to celebrate before enjoying a pit walk and spending the rest of the day exploring the paddock. Being able to get so close to the action and soak up the atmosphere behind the scenes made an already brilliant day even better.

The camping experience deserves a mention, too. We stayed in the trackside campground in a pre-pitched tent, and the facilities were great. The tent was shared between two people and had plenty of room for us, making it a comfortable base for the weekend. Being able to camp right by the circuit was a brilliant way to experience the full Grand Prix atmosphere. There’s something special about being able to rock up on your motorcycle with a sleeping bag and have everything you need. That’s without a doubt the biggest thing I will miss about Phillip Island. There’s no camping at a city circuit.

Then came Saturday night. A huge storm rolled in, bringing thunder, lightning and a very different kind of excitement to the weekend. Unfortunately, the weather had the final say, with Sunday’s Grand Prix sessions cancelled because visibility was too poor for the medical helicopter to operate safely.

The cancellation itself was disappointing, but the communication on Sunday was arguably just as frustrating. Information was terrible, leaving fans trying to work out what was happening and what the plans were as the weather situation unfolded. When you’ve travelled, paid for tickets and organised accommodation to attend a Grand Prix, clear and timely updates are the least you expect. Safety absolutely has to come first, but keeping fans informed should be part of the package, too.

It was a frustrating end to what had otherwise been an incredible weekend, especially after such a brilliant Saturday. Nobody can control the weather, and cancelling the racing when conditions aren’t safe is the right call. But better communication would have made a difficult situation much easier for everyone attending.

Despite the weather putting a dampener on the final day, Phillip Island was an unforgettable experience. The Ducati pit box tour, watching Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia head out on track, celebrating Zarco’s front-row qualifying result, the pit walk and exploring the paddock made the trip worthwhile. But there was an extra layer of emotion to the weekend, knowing this was the final Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

To experience such an incredible circuit, soak up the atmosphere and then have to say goodbye made the weekend all the more bittersweet. Phillip Island has given MotoGP fans so many unforgettable moments, and it feels heartbreaking to be saying farewell like this. The weather may have cut the weekend short, but it could never take away the memories. What a privilege to have been there for one last time. 🏁💔