Iconic MotoGP venue at risk

A petition has been set up by the Bass Coast Shire Council, with the support from local businesses to try and save Phillip Island as the home for the Australian MotoGP. 

The petition was launched in December, with the council keen to see the Victorian government secure a new long-term deal for the circuit.

The iconic race track will host the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, but beyond this year it does not have an agreement in place with the sport’s top brass to continue. It’s not certain the deal won’t be renewed, but this petition clearly shows that there are major concerns in that regard. 

A post on Facebook from the Bass Coast Shire Council said this about the ongoing situation: 

“The Phillip Island MotoGP is under real threat - and we can’t let it go without a fight. This race brings more than $60 million into our community and supports local jobs, tourism and small business across Bass Coast and Gippsland. We want it here. We need it here.”

However, it’s also being reported that negotiations to keep Phillip Island on the MotoGP calendar are already underway, so it might not be doom and gloom after all. 

Phillip Island is one of the most famous circuits on the current MotoGP calendar, and has produced some of the sport’s best races and most memorable moments. Valentino Rossi has the most wins across all categories at the venue (8), while home hero Casey Stoner won six MotoGP races in a row from 2007 to 2012. That level of dominance has been unmatched by any other rider.

MotoGP has raced at Phillip Island since 1997, except for 2020 and 2021, when the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected events worldwide at the time.

In 2025, Phillip Island saw its spectator attendance grow ever so slightly compared to 2024, with a total of 91,245 fans making their way to the event. But that number was the fourth lowest throughout the season.

Photo credit - Gold and Goose

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