Phillip Island and MotoGP classics are synonymous with each other, and the last weekend was meant to be a time of celebration to honour the legacy and memories that the iconic track has provided for the past 30 years.

From Valentino Rossi overcoming a 10-second time penalty to win the race in 2003, to Australia's own Casey Stoner winning six consecutive races there in the premier class from 2007-2012, to Marc Marquez dropping to 13th on the opening lap and fighting back through the field to win in 2024, Phillip Island always promised a spectacle of racing.

Branded as 'the final roar', record crowds descended on the Island to witness one final weekend of MotoGP racing before its controversial exit makes way for the Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027.

The weekend kicked off in stunning fashion with 32,695 spectators pouring through the gates on the Friday, and 45,858 on Saturday to witness one of the all-time sprint race battles between Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin.

The battle ultimately saw Marquez come out on top, - regaining control of the championship in the process - where he now takes a ten-point lead into the Malaysian Grand Prix.

While there was expected rainfall on Sunday, a rare cancellation never seemed to be on the cards.

For the first time at Phillip Island, a sell-out crowd in excess of 50,000 fans was expected on the Sunday.

With track action scheduled to kick of at 9:40am (AEDT), there was continuous delays due to poor visibility disrupting the operations of the medical helicopter, ultimately leading to a cancellation of the event with riders only able to complete a parade lap of the circuit to say farewell.

A somber lull fell across the track as fans came to the realisation that this was the last time that they would see MotoGP bikes at Phillip Island.

At least for the foreseeable future.

Australian hometown hero, Jack Miller, was up to his usual antics - performing wheelies and stoppies to entertain the crowd - in what was his final home grand prix before moving to World Superbikes.

It was not just fans that were left disappointed by the decision to leave the iconic venue, with many riders vocalising their opinions across the weekend.

"It's a shame. It's an iconic track. Pure speed," said two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia in his Thursday media scrum.

"It's a shame because it's on tracks like this that we riders have the most fun with."

"There aren't many like it anymore... we're definitely going in a different direction."

There were three burning topics of conversation over the weekend in the paddock: the decision to leave Phillip Island, the weather, and thoughts on Adelaide.

What happened across the course of the weekend answered all three queries.

The driving factors behind leaving Phillip Island surrounded the accessibility of the track being a one-way in, one-way out venue, outdated facilities for riders, teams and fans, and the far from ideal weather for racing hitting the Bass Coast Shire in Spring.

Fans were experiencing lengthy delays getting to and from the venue, vehicles were getting bogged in the carpark, but still many braved the treacherous conditions to farewell a circuit that provided them with so many memories.

It was, ironically, the most 'Phillip Island' send-off the event could have had.

Adelaide offers the complete opposite, with the track set to be constructed near the city centre, making it easily accessible for all fans, and a reduced threat of looming weather conditions with the event set to take place in the middle of November.

Many die-hard fans have raised the question why the Phillip Island meet couldn't be moved to the latter time slot closer to summer when better weather is usually experienced, but for now, it is goodbye.

Works can now officially begin on the $96 million MotoGP Adelaide Street Circuit redevelopment, after it was approved by the national environmental regulator under federal environmental protection measures.

It was not the send-off that the iconic Phillip Island weekend deserved, with fans hoping that one day they will see MotoGP bikes once again roaring around its fast and flowing corners.