The opening practice session for the Australian GP was delayed and, after two hours, completely canceled due to heavy rain at Phillip Island.
As predicted, Friday began wet, but the conditions worsened after the conclusion of Moto2 free practice. This led to the delay of MotoGP's FP1, with the BMW Safety Car cruising on the track.
The issue, according to several riders, was not just the volume of rain, but how it pooled on the new asphalt instead of draining properly.

Home hero Jack Miller talked with Simon Crafar in pit lane: "We’re getting the full Phillip Island experience! The last two days were brilliant, but now we’re seeing the not-so-nice side of things.

"Big shout-out to the fans. It’s a shame we’re not out there, but hopefully, there will be a break in the rain so the standing water can clear—it’s aquaplane-city out there right now.

"We appreciate the new asphalt, but it’s causing the water to sit on top."

After nearly two hours of waiting, Race Direction officially announced the pit lane would open at 12:25 PM track time, which ultimately sparked concern among several riders. This decision was quickly reversed, and further delay was announced instead. Dorna Safety Officer Loris Capirossi, who was driving the safety car, explained the situation: "As soon as the rain eased, the track was improving, but then it started pouring again, causing aquaplaning. It’s safer to wait for the rain to stop."

FP1 was officially canceled around 12:30 PM track time. A revised schedule has yet to be confirmed, but more rain is expected throughout the day, putting the afternoon practice session in doubt. That session is critical for determining the top 10 riders who automatically advance to Q2.

Saturday is expected to be dry but windy, with Sunday offering the best conditions for the whole weekend.

Losing dry track time on Friday now creates a challenge for teams, as they won’t be able to gather crucial data on slick tires, especially given Michelin’s expanded tire selection for the new asphalt.

Luckily, while the riders were waiting for the session to start, they managed to have a good time.