By Peter Cleeland
THE 19th round of the MotoGP World Championship scheduled from October 17 to 19 at Phillip Island has taken on a completely different complexion with the injury to 2025 champion Marc Marquez. Marquez took a high-speed tumble and broke his right collarbone in the early stages of the Indonesian Grand Prix, ruling him out of any future races this season.
Throughout the season, the blistering speed of MotoGP rider Marquez has left the remaining competing riders in his wake in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship. Coming from Honda Racing to Ducati for the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, Ducati have put the world’s best rider on the world’s best GP bike. In both the 12-lap sprint races and the longer 20-plus lap events, Marquez has stood head and shoulders above all other riders.
With his injury, the door has been thrown well and truly open for other riders to take the top step on the winners’ rostrum.
Dual world champion and Ducati teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, has found some form in Motegi, Japan, but had a shocker in Indonesia, also hitting the tarmac, though he has good speed at the Island track. It will also be interesting to see if Lenovo Ducati bring in a replacement rider for Marquez for the remainder of the season. Marquez’s brother, Alex, who also rides a Ducati for the Gresini Racing team, has been a consistent performer throughout the year and will definitely be a serious challenger.
Fans’ allegiances will be with Pramac Yamaha rider Jack Miller, who has just re-signed a contract for 2026. For Miller, this year on the Yamaha has produced plenty of challenges, sorting out the bike and getting it up to speed to be competitive. Sitting back in 17th position on 52 points, Miller has found some recent competitive speed as Yamaha undergoes continued development. On his home track,
Jack will be looking to make a statement and could finish in the top five if he can stay upright!
The 2025 Moto2 championship has been a much closer affair, with 45 points covering the first five riders. Lone Australian rider Senna Aguis currently sits in ninth position with one win for the season, he is building his competitiveness on the Kalex. Spanish rider, Manuel Gonzalez, leads Aron Canet and Brazilian Diogo Moreira as the championship unfolds.
In Moto3, Australian Joel Kelso, who hails from Queensland, sits in sixth position, 127 points behind Spaniard Jose Rueda, who has had seven wins so far this season. In fact, the first five riders in this championship are all Spanish. While another Aussie rider, Jacob Roulstone, currently sits in 15th position in this highly competitive class.
With a whole lot of off-track activities and an exhilarating on-track racing program, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is the place to be come October 17!