The sole girl grand prix racer Maria Herrera, whose AGR team folded after the last European race at Aragon, was back in Australia. The 21-year-old Spanish Moto3 rider was thrown a lifeline by the Aspar Mahindra team, to take the place of injured team regular Albert Arenas, who suffered a hand fracture in a crash in practice at Motegi.
Herrera claimed her best-yet result at Phillip Island, finishing 11th in 2015. She finished in the points once this year, with 15th in Argentina.
