Phillip Island may be facing its last MotoGP race in 2026 – Dorna is considering Albert Park or a street circuit in Adelaide as alternatives
The future of the Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island appears to be hanging in the balance.
According to a report in The Age newspaper, this year’s race could be the last to be held at the iconic coastal circuit. The reason for this is Dorna Sports’ strategic decision to move racing events closer to cities, ideally even to street circuits. The Phillip Island race is currently in the final year of its current contract cycle.
One possible alternative would be the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, which also hosts the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Both events are organized by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Another factor in favor of this move is that Dorna is now part of the Liberty Media Group, which has already shown a clear preference for city circuits in Formula 1.
MotoGP soon on an Australian city circuit?
However, the Victorian government has signaled its commitment to Phillip Island and is interested in continuing the race. However, this would require significant investment in the track, which has hosted MotoGP annually since 1997, apart from the two-year Corona break in 2020 and 2021.
If Dorna insisted on a street circuit such as Albert Park, extensive modifications would also be necessary to be able to host MotoGP there. The same applies to the Adelaide Parklands Circuit as a possible alternative.
Apparently, there have already been talks between Dorna representatives and the South Australian government about a possible race on the street circuit there.
It hosted the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix between 1985 and 1995 before the races were moved to Albert Park in Victoria. Since 1999, Adelaide has hosted the Adelaide 500 Supercars race on a shortened course.
Spectator development at Phillip Island
Popular with riders, the Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island has seen fluctuations in spectator numbers over the past two decades. The first big wave of spectators came between 2006 and 2008 (93,531 – 115,058 – 108,182).
After the retirement of Australia’s MotoGP star Casey Stoner in 2012, attendance initially declined, with only 77,200 fans making their way to the island in 2013.
Attendance figures then leveled off between 77,900 and 86,250 before the 2020 and 2021 races had to be canceled due to the pandemic. With the return of the Grand Prix in 2022, 91,158 spectators attended, but in 2023 only 71,387. In 2024 and 2025, the numbers recovered slightly to 90,685 and 91,245.
This season, the Australian Grand Prix will take place from October 23 to 25 and will be the 19th stop of the MotoGP season. By then, a decision may have been made on the long-term venue for the Australian World Championship race.
