Goodbye Phillip Island: Why MotoGP's Best Track Says Farewell
MotoGP races Phillip Island for the last time before the Australian GP moves to Adelaide in 2027. Why the circuit matters, and what riders lose.
Image: Property of MotoGP / Dorna Sports (photo: Gold and Goose)
In this article
The fastest circuit on the calendar
Phillip Island, on the Victorian coast south-east of Melbourne, is routinely called the best racetrack in the world by the people paid to race on it. It held its first Australian Grand Prix in 1989 and has hosted the event continuously since 1997, apart from the pandemic cancellations of 2020 and 2021. Its layout is unique: almost no slow corners, constant radius sweeps along clifftop wind, and average lap speeds near 178 mph (286 km/h) in the MotoGP class, the highest of any circuit on the calendar.
Why the racing is different here
The combination of fast corners, sea wind and smooth asphalt produces racing no other track replicates. The long Doohan Corner opening lap lets a pack stay bunched, the punishing Turn 3 rewards courage, and the final hayshed corner onto the straight creates photo finishes. Races here are routinely decided by fractions of a second, and six or seven riders fighting for the win is normal.
The 2026 finale weekend
fittingly, the farewell is delivering a title fight. Marc Marquez's wet-session pole after a crash, Jorge Martin's sprint-race crash and injury, and Jack Miller's final home appearance before his WorldSBK move in 2027 have loaded this round with story. Five-time Phillip Island winner Marquez starts the last grand prix here from pole with the championship lead restored.
Why MotoGP is leaving
The event moves to a new street circuit in Adelaide from 2027, part of MotoGP's broader push toward city venues that pair racing with major-event infrastructure. The decision reflects money and facilities, not the racing: Phillip Island's location, 130 kilometres (81 miles) from Melbourne, and its exposed coastal weather make the commercial side harder than the sporting side. Adelaide promises big crowds and modern amenities; what it cannot promise is this layout.
What riders say about it
Ask riders to name their favourite circuit and Phillip Island tops most lists, the way Spa does in four-wheeled racing. The affection is about flow: the track rewards precision and nerve in equal measure, and the weather that can ruin a weekend also makes the good days unforgettable. Riders past and present have described it as the purest test of a motorcycle racer.
What we lose if it never comes back
For now the word from the championship is that Phillip Island's MotoGP round is paused, not gone, and street-circuit history suggests these moves are not always permanent. But calendar pressure is real, and there is no guarantee of a return. Sunday's grand prix might genuinely be the last MotoGP race at the best track in the world, which is exactly what it feels like watching Marc Marquez chase a sixth win here with the title swinging in his hands.
Sunday will not be the last world-class motorcycle racing at the circuit itself. WorldSBK has opened its season at Phillip Island for years and the Australian Superbike championship calls it home, so the track stays busy even without MotoGP. The support classes are saying goodbye along with the premier class this weekend too: Moto2 and Moto3 riders are contesting their final Phillip Island rounds, and the home crowd got local storylines out of it, with Australian rookie Joel Kelso qualifying on the Moto3 front row and Sesto San Giovanni's Filippo Farioli in the Moto2 fight. The venue also announced upgrades in recent years aimed squarely at keeping major international racing, which is why many in the paddock treat this as a negotiation loss rather than a farewell forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is MotoGP leaving Phillip Island?
The Australian GP moves to a new Adelaide street circuit from 2027. The move is driven by event economics and facilities, not the quality of the racing, and the circuit itself remains in use for other series.
When was Phillip Island's first MotoGP race?
The circuit hosted its first Australian Grand Prix in 1989 and has held the event continuously since 1997, apart from 2020 and 2021 pandemic cancellations.
Is Phillip Island the fastest MotoGP track?
Yes. Its flowing layout produces the highest average lap speeds on the calendar, near 178 mph (286 km/h) in the MotoGP class.
Will MotoGP ever return to Phillip Island?
Unknown. The move is described as a shift to Adelaide rather than a permanent ban, and circuits do return to calendars, but there is no confirmed return date.
Who has won the most at Phillip Island?
Marc Marquez has five MotoGP wins at the circuit, including his 2024 victory on a Gresini Ducati, making him the winningest rider in the current field there.