The phrase "die hard"
asserted
phrase → die → ?
Not only did enthusiasts travel for hours in traffic to get onto Victoria's Phillip Island, but they sat all day Sunday in the rain, waiting under the looming prospect the final race on the island's iconic circuit would be cancelled.
asserted
race → travel → circuit
Finally, the crowd was put out of its misery.
asserted
crowd → put → misery
After delay upon delay, the final MotoGP to be held on the island was no more, unceremoniously cancelled due to poor visibility and rain that had been falling steadily overnight and into the day.
asserted
that → hold → day
The breadth of the weekend's weather suited the mood of the final weekend of MotoGP racing.
asserted
breadth → suit → racing
Fans stood on Friday under a blazing spring sun to watch their heroes do practice laps at the island track, the azure waters of the Bass Strait blazing on the horizon, before conditions shifted to a wintry deluge on the last two days of racing.
asserted
conditions → stand → racing
Stephen Greenwood rode his bike from Campbelltown in New South Wales, and was part of the heaving crowds swarming the island in a haze of adrenaline, nostalgia, and bittersweet sense of loss.
asserted
Greenwood → ride → loss
He has hopes the race could some day return to the island.
uncertain
race → have → island
"It's such a shame to lose it from here.
asserted
It → lose → it
It's one of the best tracks in the world and I just love coming here," Mr Greenwood said.
asserted
Greenwood → come → world
He said the community and atmosphere of the event was intoxicating, and draw him back each year.
asserted
community → say → him
"You walk the streets, you see the riders in cafes.
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you → walk → cafes
I've seen a couple of the riders at the Italian restaurant.
asserted
I → see → restaurant
The track is phenomenal," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
"I have friends who rode down from Arlie Beach … everyone just wants to support it."
One final roar
When the MotoGP makes its annual pilgrimage to the Gippsland region, the island becomes a melting pot of cliche and chaos, with the roar and hum of motorcycles in their thousands set against the backdrop of a blue ocean that could be the envy of any Greek Island.
uncertain
that → have → Island
Aria Bie from Knox near Melbourne has had her licence for three years, and travelled to the island on her Triumph Daytona 660 for the Homecoming Ride.
asserted
Bie → have → Ride
"Coming to Phillip Island is really exciting, because I'm still getting used to the long ride for the whole day," she said.
asserted
she → come → day
"But it makes it special.
asserted
it → make → ?
This is the national event, and we have lots of bikers here with passion.
asserted
we → have → passion
It just feels really nice to be part of the group and the biker community as well."
The MotoGP has drawn thousands of motoring fans to the island to watch the annual race since 1989.
asserted
MotoGP → feel → 1989
And the island pulled out all stops in its farewell to the sport.
asserted
island → pull → sport
Chequered flags hung from street lights and snapped in the coastal wind.
asserted
flags → hang → wind
Shop fronts were decorated welcoming the motorbikes to town.
asserted
fronts → decorate → town
And business owners braced themselves for one of their busiest weekends of the year, coming back to life after a seasonal winter hibernation.
asserted
owners → brace → hibernation
She was part of the local push to save the race earlier this year.
asserted
She → save → race
And as she rode onto the iconic circuit last Thursday for the Homecoming Ride, she shed a tear.
asserted
she → ride → tear
"It's a shame we've lost it," she said.
"Driving into the track this morning, I cried just a little bit, because we've got such a beautiful venue."
asserted
we → lose → venue
She said the loss would be felt by all islanders because people worked together and made it a "very successful weekend".
asserted
it → say → islanders
Marking the occasion
Newer residents to the island have readily embraced the electric atmosphere of island life during the MotoGP weekend.
asserted
residents → mark → weekend
Connor Cardus, who has lived in Cowes for five years, isn't a huge motoring fan.
asserted
who → live → years
But as a business owner in town, he admits to getting swept up in the atmosphere every time the bikes roll in.
asserted
bikes → admit → atmosphere
He even marked the occasion this year with a MotoGP-inspired tattoo.
asserted
He → mark → tattoo
There are so many people, and it's such an injection for local industries, and the money that comes through," he said.
asserted
he → be → industries
"As a punter, going down to the local pubs and seeing all the businesses so busy after a quiet winter, it's amazing.
asserted
it → go → winter
It's really what we need, and it's going to be missed.
asserted
it → need → what
"Over the next few years, it's going to be very clear that we had a good thing, and we lost it."
asserted
we → go → it
One last dance
Standing beside hundreds of idling motorcycles and feeling the road rumble beneath your feet as they pass you by, it's easy to understand why riders tolerate all conditions to see their heroes tear down Gardner Straight one final time.
asserted
heroes → stand → Straight
But despite the delays, the cancellation of the race's grand finale, and an entire day spent sitting in the cold and the rain, motoring fans were treated to one last roar, as rider and fan alike bid farewell to one of the sport's most beloved tracks.
asserted
rider → spend → tracks
The Aporia
