AUS MOTOGP | Why not have both?

Neil Morrison examines why sentiment surrounding MotoGP’s controversial move away from Phillip Island has shifted from alarm to optimism

Like many with even a passing interest in motorcycle racing, those within the MotoGP paddock were sceptical about the proposed switch from Phillip Island to the Adelaide circuit for the 2027 Australian Grand Prix. Not only did the protests in Australia over cutting down trees cast doubt on whether the event could happen; the original layout of the new track shown in February after the switch was announced didn’t inspire a great deal of confidence.

“A street circuit’s never going to be amazing (with) undulations, big hills, like you get in COTA or Phillip Island,” said Jack Miller days after seeing the original outline in February. “The track gave me Balaton vibes.”

The Balaton to which he referred was Hungary’s  Balaton Park Circuit, on the calendar this year and last, and one of the more uninspiring layouts in recent MotoGP history. A track that features four low-speed chicanes and has an average speed of 149km/h produced lacklustre MotoGP racing. That didn’t inspire confidence.

But the recent release of the final proposed layout – after more than 25 previous designs – was met with moderate relief. “It looks fun,” said an understated Pecco Bagnaia. “For sure it’s not Phillip Island. It’s much more boring but seems better than Balaton.”

Others were more enthusiastic. While a long way from boasting turns like Stoner Corner and the Hayshed, the city-based circuit at least appears to have some flow with the occasional complex bend thrown in. Plus, safety – a concern for many – isn’t a glaring issue around the 15 turns displayed in the rendering of the track.

“It’s a normal track,” said Alex Marquez. “Everybody was saying that we cannot go to a street circuit. But it looks like it’s a normal one with run-off areas. If the virtual (rendering) is the reality, it’s a great job.”

There was a general acceptance within MotoGP that the Australian GP needed some kind of shake up. Low attendances and weather-afflicted events weren’t helped by the outdated facilities at Phillip Island. Events there since the pandemic trailed badly in terms of atmosphere and interest compared to Le Mans or Assen, the championship’s flagship rounds.

While unconvinced on the layout, Pol Espargaro could understand the direction MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, now under Liberty Media ownership, is taking. “It looks okay,” he said. “As soon as the safety is fine, what I like most is to go to places where there is a big city behind or close, that helps people to find hotels, to hang out.

“Because (lately) we’ve seen that in sports in general, when people come to see an event, it’s not just about the sport. People need to do something else, like going shopping, going to dinner. going to a concert, 360 events that are possible to do when you are close to a big city as Adelaide. I’m looking forward to seeing this one.”

At the top levels of MotoGP, relief abounded that this resembled an actual track, where it wasn’t difficult to imagine elite motorcycle prototypes actually racing. “The first thing I would say is that it was important to calm everybody down and really give the teams and the riders a vision of what was going to be built,” said Deputy MotoGP CEO Carlos Ezpeleta.

“Of course, after the announcement, everybody hears ‘street circuit’ and they imagine an Isle of Man or Monaco-looking track, and I think at least everybody who understands the dynamics of MotoGP I think that box has been ticked. We’ve elevated what can be done.”

Many in Australia will likely take umbrage over the environmental impact of the proposed track. Ezpeleta’s comment that they will “minimise the impact on the trees, then mitigating that through replanting and transplanting of other trees” is unlikely to allay such fears.

MotoGP’s number two also sought to allay any concerns over the proposed date of the event late in 2027. “There’s a very specific timeline that we have together with the government of South Australia. People are going to have to realise that this is not your usual build, where you start two years before the event. A lot of the infrastructure is temporary. For the Supercars, they built that in four or five months, and that’s going to be the type of building that they are going to use for MotoGP.”

Like it or not, Adelaide could offer a blueprint to similar new events. Even tracks like Motorland Aragon (Spain) or Termas de Rio Hondo (Argentina) could become less relevant due to their distance from major population hubs.

Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna recently stated as much. “We have to be as close as possible to the people. To go to tracks around important cities is a target for the future.”

Before that, MotoGP must ensure Adelaide goes to plan. “Right now, we have to get Adelaide right,” said Ezpeleta. “On the operational side of it, there is going to be a lot to learn. Right now, we have one or two temporary gravel beds on the calendar at permanent circuits. Everything in Adelaide is going to be temporary gravel. Then there’ll be the opportunity to think about more events like that in the future if they do.”

There is certainly intrigue to see how this huge project takes shape. And Alex Marquez spoke for many when saying, “Phillip Island will always be Phillip Island. We need to ask Carmelo (Ezpeleta – Dorna CEO) to do two races in Australia.”