From childhood awe to career-defining podiums, Miller, Agius, Kelso and Roulstone rewind to their favourite Phillip Island moments of all time
Local fans attending Phillip Island this year should have plenty to cheer about. Senna Agius (Moto2) and Joel Kelso (Moto3) are realistic podium threats in their respective races, while Jack Miller (MotoGP) will be sampling Yamaha’s sweet-handling V4 M1 around the glorious open curves for the first time – a sight in itself.
So, ahead of the four Aussie stars’ home GP, we asked them for their favourite memories of the event when they were growing up, as well as those standout moments when competing at Phillip Island themselves as professional riders.
Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha, MotoGP)
How’s your season going?
“I haven’t been able to be as competitive as I would like this year on a consistent basis. We’ve shown that we have speed on random occasions. But I’m looking forward to going to Phillip Island on the Yamaha. Momentum is key there and this bike seems pretty good for momentum and fast turning. Our big issue is gaining speed. But once you’ve got it, you can maintain it pretty decent. It’s always a pleasure racing at home in front of the Australian crowd – they’re extra special. Fingers crossed we can put on a decent show for them.”
Do you have an early memory of the Australian round of MotoGP?
“I grew up racing motocross. In those early days up in north Queensland there wasn’t too much talk of road racing! Then, once I understood that road racing was out there, I was all for that and was a mad fan from then on out. The first time I went to Phillip Island was in 2009. I remember watching Julito (Simon) winning his (125cc) championship there. Once you’re there and see the big show and hear the big bikes, you want more! I was there with a mate of mine who was doing a wildcard that year. I was in pitlane and just listening to the bikes – the 250s in particular – coming out onto the front straight was something pretty special.”
What was your best memory of competing at your home GP?
“The Moto3 win (in 2014) was definitely pretty special. That year top speed was our issue and it was a long, old drag out of the last corner to get it over the line. But I felt like I had the whole crowd riding on the back with me. The first year in 2011 I don’t think I led the race but I was in the fight for the podium. I had gambled with the wet tyres and was up there toward the front but ended up getting lapped because it went from wet to dry real quick! That was pretty cool as well. Then sharing the podium with Marc (Marquez) and Cal (Crutchlow) in 2019 was pretty spectacular.”
Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Inact GP, Moto2)
How’s your season going?
“My qualifying has taken a big step this year. I’ve been on the first two or three rows over the past seven races. I’ve made a couple of mistakes. I’ve had faulty tyres and faulty parts. I’ve been taken out. It’s not been the easiest time because each time we’ve been testing we’ve been fast and competitive. But the results haven’t quite materialised in the middle part of the season. It’s been hard to accept because there’s been so much hard work going into it. It’s my second year. The team’s amazing. It’s exactly where we should be.”
Do you have an early memory of the Australian GP?
“Before my international racing career took off, my dad was a regional rep for Honda in NSW. He always took me and the family down to the corporate box on the right side of pitlane at Turn 1. It was more or less where the MotoGP bikes would brake, and you’d hear the back torque from the engine. I remember as a kid holding onto the fence listening to these bikes. On the Thursday they had a Honda dinner and I remember meeting all these riders. I’d have a jacket from every year in the catalogue and would get them all to sign it. I still have them all at home. Marc, Dani (Pedrosa), Cal, (Stefan) Bradl, (Scott) Redding, Nicky (Hayden). These guys were like from another world to me. I looked at them and was like, ‘Wow, I can’t understand what they do.’ And now I’m in the paddock. I haven’t achieved all my dreams yet but a home GP when riding in MotoGP would be another level again.”
What was your best memory of competing at your home GP?
“A podium at your home GP in your rookie season – that’s pretty perfect! And for it to be my first podium. The only thing that can beat that is to win my home GP! The whole weekend I had so many family members there. I started back in 13th, which was disappointing. But I did a couple of good first laps to get into the second group with (Ai) Ogura. But Aron (Canet), Fermin (Aldeguer) and Alonso (Lopez) had already made a gap ahead. I was only losing two-tenths to them each lap, but that was as I was always pushing the wind down the straight. If I could’ve started up front and gone with them… I was faster than Lopez at the end. I just started too far back. This year there’ll be more expectation for sure and that excites me! I want to deliver for the home crowd. It’s always an amazing weekend down there.”
Joel Kelso (LevelUP-MTA KTM, Moto3)
How’s your season going?
“It’s the strongest season we’ve had to date. We’re sixth overall, which isn’t great considering we were fighting for the championship at the start of the season. We’re not far away from fighting for the top three overall. We need to step it up if we want to do that. I’m feeling in the best shape of my career. Every year we’re finding ways to improve and close the gap to first. We’ve been training a lot with the motocross bike, flat track and the Superbike during the preseason. That helped a lot with managing the tyre and helped me be more comfortable with the bike sideways. This year we have three podiums (until Misano) compared to no podiums last year. We just have to keep on going.”
Do you have an early memory of the Australian GP?
“I hadn’t ridden there many times before my first home GP. But I always went down to Phillip Island to watch the MotoGP, especially after I started road racing. I was 12 when I first jumped on a Moto3 bike and then moved to Europe at 15. So I went for three years from 2016-2018 and watched as a spectator. Marc Marquez was fighting at the front and Cal Crutchlow was still around. I was running around the paddock asking for MotoGP riders’ knee and elbow sliders. Those were the days when you’d chase for a photo and hope to get invited into the box. As I said, I got into road racing quite late. Once I went to a MotoGP round, I thought, ‘This is where I want to be one day!’ For that to be a reality now is pretty awesome.”
What was your best memory of competing at your home GP?
It’d most definitely be the podium we got at Phillip Island in 2023! They were tricky conditions but it was an amazing day. You’ve got to have big balls for that track. I just love it. You have to commit and really send it in the fast corners. That suits my riding style for sure. We’re going to fight so hard to make that happen again this year as we got a bit unlucky in 2024.”
Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3, Moto3)
How’s your season going?
“It’s been very up and down. It’s not the one I was wanting. The start of the season was a big let-down. Starting off delayed wasn’t ideal but I recovered well from that. Then I hit a bit of a rut trying too many things and struggling to find a way. Then I got out of that rut and improved a bit. We had a really good test leading into the summer break and we’re back to a decent place now. Barcelona was a really good weekend apart from the race. Misano too. I still have a few things to work on but we’re getting there.”
Do you have an early memory of the Australian GP?
“I had never been before last year. It’s so far away from my home! I grew up around road racing. I have a family friend who was like a role model to me. He raced and my father did a bit of road racing. So I was always around it when I was younger, even if I was doing motocross and obsessed with Chad Reed. I always wanted to be called Chad, rather than Jacob! It took time for me to go road racing. When I did, I always watched Moto3 – it’d be on around dinner time in Australia. The first memory I really have is of 2017 when they had all the live sessions on TV. That was special. Then when I started road racing, I was watching every single session of every single GP.”
What was your best memory of competing at your home GP?
“My career highlight was wearing the Mick (Doohan) replica helmet last year. I had met him before. But it was so cool to be riding into the track with him (during the pre-event). The coolest thing was standing above the boxes when I revealed my helmet design. When I showed him it, he just smiled. He’s someone my father and mother looked up to. That’s something I’ll remember forever. I had only ridden Phillip Island three times before then – it’s not like I’ve done a million laps around there. It’s special being an Aussie and racing there. It’s the best track in the world and I feel I did quite a good job there last year.”
