After almost 30 years, MotoGP is leaving the iconic Phillip Island circuit.
2026 will be the last time we see MotoGP riders battling it out on Phillip Island. The announcement came 24 hours after the Victorian government offered additional funds to keep the race. But it seems their reluctance to move the event to Melbourne’s Albert Park ultimately turned out the be the deal-breaker.
Minister for Sports and Events Steve Dimopoulos reflected on the decision:
“We know that we could have kept [the race] in Victoria, had we sold out Phillip Island. We were never willing to sell out Phillip Island. We met every other request. We met the licence fee, we met everything else, in fact, went beyond it.”
The MotoGP race is worth more than $29 million to the state. It supports 248 full-time jobs each year and brings visitors from across the globe. The circuit has had multiple upgrades throughout the decades in order to maintain MotoGP’s high standards. With so much effort put in, and the immense pride of being the home of MotoGP in Australia for three decades, the loss will be keenly felt.
Adelaide Swoops In
On 19th February, MotoGP announced that the Australian Grand Prix will be moving to the streets of Adelaide from 2027. A six-year agreement has been signed, and will mark the first MotoGP Grand Prix to be held in a city-centre location.
The circuit layout was unveiled in front of national media. At 4.195km long, it will feature 18 corners and enable riders to reach speeds of more than 340km/h through the city streets. It might look familiar to Formula 1 fans, as it follows the blueprint of the same circuit that hosted F1 between 1985 and 1995. Significant adjustments will be required, however, in order to try and meet the strict safety standards needed for a motorcycle race.
MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer, Carlos Ezpeleta, has high hopes for the move:
“Bringing MotoGP to Adelaide marks a major milestone in the evolution of our championship. This city has a world-class reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the opportunity to design a purpose-built circuit in the city streets is something truly unique in our sport.”
Mixed Feelings
The news has been met with a mixed reception from MotoGP fans. Some are excited for the change, keen to see the racing spectacle come to life. Others feel that it’s a terrible mistake and a disaster waiting to unfold.
Love it or loathe it, MotoGP is on the move. Only time will tell if this was a wise choice – but there’s no denying that, good or bad, it’s definitely going to be something.
Feature image credit – By Tom Reynolds from Melbourne, Australia – _DSC8310, CC BY 2.0, Link