Australia’s MotoGP round will shift interstate in 2027 after nearly 30 years of continuous running at Phillip Island
Victoria has lost the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after almost three decades of hosting the race at Phillip Island, with the event expected to move interstate from next year following the state government’s failure to secure a new contract.
According to a report by the Herald Sun, government sources have confirmed this year’s race will be the last held at Phillip Island, where the MotoGP has run annually since 1997. The event has long been a major drawcard for the Bass Coast region, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to Phillip Island each year.
Attendance has remained strong. Last year’s Australian MotoGP attracted 93,000 fans, the highest crowd since 2012 and a 10,000 increase on 2024. The economic value has also been substantial. A 2023 Ernst & Young economic impact study found the MotoGP generated $54.6 million in economic benefit for Victoria, including $29.4 million in direct local spend within Bass Coast, and supported 284 full-time equivalent jobs.
The news follows a Victorian government press release issued just a day earlier promoting the event’s value and its link to the region. “The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is synonymous with Phillip Island, and Victoria is proud to support it,” the government said. The same statement noted: “Today, the Allan Labor government ruled out a request from Dorna Sports to move the event from Phillip Island to Albert Park.”
The government also framed the race as a key regional asset, stating: “As regional Australia’s biggest international sporting event, the Motorcycle GP brings tens of thousands of visitors to Phillip Island every year. “It’s good for tourism, good for local businesses, and good for jobs.”
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson criticised the loss, arguing it would shift visitors and spending out of Victoria. “Another state has snatched the chequered flag and will take the crowds, visitors and economic activity with them,” she said. “The loss of this event is emblematic of Victoria’s decline under Labor and a huge blow to the local businesses of Phillip Island. “With at least $15bn lost to corruption, is it any wonder why we can’t afford to keep major events in Victoria?”
While the new location hasn’t been confirmed, the realistic shortlist is narrow because MotoGP requires a circuit with modern safety infrastructure, pit and paddock capacity, and the ability to host an international-scale crowd and broadcast operation. In practical terms, the alternatives most often raised are The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia and Sydney Motorsport Park in NSW. The Bend is a modern, purpose-built facility near Tailem Bend, about an hour from Adelaide, with a long main straight, multiple configuration options and contemporary garages and paddock facilities designed for major events, making it the most “ready-made” circuit option on paper.
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas made it clear recently that his state had made a pitch to host the Australian MotoGP round, saying Melbourne had lost its ‘sporting capital’ status. It is understood those negotiations are advanced, and the possibility of a street circuit has also been mooted with new MotoGP rights holder Liberty media said to be keen to see such a layout on the calendar. Earlier this week Victorian Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos stated Victoria would not ‘sell out’ Phillip Island by moving the race to Albert Park, a decision that could have been integral to MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group’s decision to move the event.
