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The decision to cancel the qualifications and possibly have them on Sunday didn't surprise Giacomo Agostini, who came to Australia to "officiate" a dinner dedicated to MV Agusta.
"They did the right thing because it was impossible to practice safely," said the 15-time world champion. "It's not just a question of the MotoGP's power. In my time, we maybe reached 270 km/h, but the problem is not the speed. The Moto2 reaches 290, and you reach 340 in the premier class, but the danger comes from the gusts of wind. If it were constant, you could race but, like Oliveira's fall proved, a gust can move you two meters, taking you off the track."
When he used to race, Agostini was among the first to worry about safety. It was different then than it is now.
"Risking death was the norm, especially for British riders. But, at one point, I put my foot down and stopped the TT. And I had won 10 before. Of course I keep it close to my heart, I still go there, and it's different now. It's become an international race, and only those who want to race do. It was once a world championship race, you had to go."
Giacomino's repertoire of memories is full of anecdotes.
"Once, at the old Nurburgring, Alberto Pagani stopped and stood in the middle of the track to stop us all. It had begun to snow. I can't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't. If you don't consider the risk, there were wonderful tracks at the time. Francorchamps was one, but you couldn't afford to fall."
