The day stared off with heavy fog putting the morning warm up sessions behind by an hour. The sun eventually broke through before light rain hit the main Moto GP race and we saw the first ever Moto Gp bike change! The riders were allowed to change from their dry weather set up bikes to their wet weather set up bikes.The race was full of action with Hayden and Rossi dicing for the position, but the race was taken out by Marco Melandri of Italy who stormed to the front and kept the lead till the end.

Valentino Rossi gives the fans a show during the warm up session.

Alex De Angelis of San Marino and the Master-MVA Aspar Team in action during the 250cc Grand Prix race.

It’s Friday morning, and the crisp morning air is filled with roar of the 990cc MotoGp bikes for first practice session. Standing at turn 6, I watch as the bikes make their way down the front straight and into turn one known as Mick Doohan corner, then through southern loop into turns three, four, five and finally into turn six.

The shot you see hear was taken on turn six, otherwise know as “Siberia”. This shot is the typical Phillip Island shot showing the ocean that is Bass Strait. In this image, current World Champion, Valentino Rossi, blasts out of turn six as he makes his way onto the back straight.

The Phillip Island circuit is 4.445km long, consisting of five right hand corners and seven left hand corners, offering plenty of positions to shoot from.

The circuit is picturesque, offering many vantage points to shoot the action with a variety of lenses. Every year I aim to shoot from at least one or two different points so as the pictures look slightly different each time.
American Nicky Hayden currently leads the championship by 22 points to Spain’s Dani Pedrosa, while Valentino Rossi sits in third, it should make for an interesting race here on Sunday.

(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images sports photographer)

Hello, I’m Getty Images photographer Robert Cianflone, and I will be covering the 2006 GMC Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island from 15-17 September, 2006. Throughout the event, I’ll bring bring you all the action, highlighting the key moments and amazing images that come from the event. I have shot for Getty Images for almost eight years and have developed a great love for motorsport, especially rally, formula one and motorbikes. My other great passion is football and earlier this year I travelled with the Australian team to the FIFA World Cup in Germany, covering the highs and lows of the team’s amazing ride! Today, I’m selecting two striking images from last year’s event as a preview to the action ahead:

(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images Sports Photographer)
The view from a part of the track known as “Siberia.” The coastline and the views are like no other race ciruit in the world.

(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images Sports Photographer)
Valentino Rossi being a showman, here he lifts the front wheel for the fans and gathered photographers.