Francesco Bagnaia urges MotoGP to repeat Australian Grand Prix decision Pedro Acosta firmly opposes

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Francesco Bagnaia has urged MotoGP to replicate a decision that has been made previously at the Australian Grand Prix, but Pedro Acosta is firmly against the idea.

The MotoGP grid has arrived at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia for the 19th round of a season that does not have a whole lot left to play for.

Marc Marquez has secured the 2025 title already, and the biggest unknowns at the moment come from the names that will join him in the top three positions of the MotoGP standings.

Alex Marquez and Bagnaia currently hold second and third, respectively, but their races this weekend could be affected by the extreme weather conditions that have landed at the circuit.

Rider safety has been a hot topic in recent weeks, due to the unfortunate incident that left Ducati’s Marquez with a broken collarbone in Indonesia.

The injury was deemed to be caused by the rough gravel at the Lombok-based circuit, and many riders have called for MotoGP to look into the safeguarding of their competitors more acutely.

READ MORE: MotoGP 2025 Australian Grand Prix weekend schedule, UK timings and how to watch

Francesco Bagnaia thinks MotoGP should replicate a 2023 decision at the Australian Grand Prix

The 2023 edition of the Australian Grand Prix saw the order of races being swapped due to the harsh wind conditions at the legendary circuit.

The Sprint race was moved to Sunday, and the 27-lap Grand Prix was instead held on Saturday.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Bagnaia detailed his desire to talk to the MotoGP safety commission regarding a similar decision being made this weekend.

The two-time premier class title winner said: “We’ll see if we move the race to Saturday, because the wind was already at its limit today, and that’s theoretically the day we’d have the least wind.”

The Italian’s sentiments were echoed in the comments of his fellow members of the MotoGP grid to Autosport.

Honda’s Luca Marini said: “I hope that somebody will take the decision before seeing Moto2 riders crash.

“This happened in the past, and it’s something that we don’t want. It’s better to be more careful, more on the safe side, because this track is heavy when you crash.”

Alex Rins also highlighted his desire to raise the issue with the safety commission, telling journalists: “For sure, on Friday we are going to talk on the safety commission.

“Already two years ago, we did the main race on Saturday and Sunday was cancelled. Let’s see.”

READ MORE: Everything to know about the Australian Grand Prix, including Phillip Island Circuit stats and previous winners

Pedro Acosta is adamant that the Australian Grand Prix should take place on Sunday

On the other hand, Pedro Acosta is adamant that the Australian Grand Prix should continue to be held on Sunday afternoon, provided that more extreme weather doesn’t follow.

Speaking to journalists following the conclusion of Friday’s practice sessions, the Murcian native said, via Motorsport.com: “We have to run on Sunday. We have to separate what happened in 2023 from what happened this year.

“I raced that Sunday with the Moto2, there was 80 km/h of wind, it was raining, and a lot of things came together, you couldn’t see anything because the sky was so dark, it seemed like we were racing at night.

“But if it’s sunny and the temperature is expected to be fine, with the wind being an element, the danger is that fifty things come together.

“I could understand changing the race day, but if it’s just wind, you have to race on Sunday.”

Even when the wind isn’t as strong as it is currently at Phillip Island, it can still cause issues for riders on the grid.

Jack Miller previously criticised the tear-off system for visors, highlighting how someone’s race can be affected by the wind carrying them into the inner housing of a MotoGP bike and causing issues for their race.

That may be the least of Miller’s worries during the Australian Grand Prix if the governing body opts to keep the race order as it is for the weekend.