Official: MotoGP confirms ‘street circuit’ replacement for Phillip Island
A ‘first of its kind’ street circuit in Adelaide will replace Phillip Island as home of the Australian MotoGP - track layout revealed, Casey Stoner reacts...
It’s official. The Australian MotoGP will move from the fast and flowing seaside circuit of Phillip Island to a new ‘first-of-its-kind’ street circuit in Adelaide from 2027.
The initial agreement will see MotoGP race in Adelaide until 2032, with the inaugural event taking place in November next year.
The official announcement insisted the city-centre venue will meet ‘the uncompromised safety standards required in the modern era of the sport’.
That would mean making room for extensive run-off areas, in what appears to be a mainly parkland setting.
Adelaide street circuit layout revealed
The circuit layout was unveiled in Adelaide on Thursday by MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta and Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas:
The circuit will be ‘approximately 4.195 km long with 18 corners winding through the city streets, enabling riders to reach speeds of more than 340 km/h’.
The track design follows 'the blueprint of the Adelaide Street Circuit that hosted Formula 1 events between 1985 and 1995, with the significant adjustments required to ensure rider safety remains the number‑one priority’.
"A purpose‑built circuit in the city streets"
“Bringing MotoGP to Adelaide marks a major milestone in the evolution of our championship,” said MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpelata.
“This city has a world‑class reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the opportunity to design a purpose‑built circuit in the city streets is something truly unique in our sport.
"From the very beginning, together with the FIM, we made sure that safety remained uncompromised - every element of the Adelaide Street Circuit has been engineered to meet the highest standards of modern MotoGP, ensuring riders can race at full intensity with complete confidence.
"Adelaide’s commitment to major events makes it the perfect home for MotoGP’s next chapter in Australia. We’re incredibly excited to showcase a new style of racing here and to create a true celebration of our sport that brings fans even closer to the action.
"This partnership represents bold ambition from both MotoGP and Australia - and we couldn’t be prouder to begin this journey together."
The picturesque Phillip Island circuit, located two-hours drive from Melbourne, first held a motorcycle grand prix in 1987, and has hosted every Australian round since 1997.
However, MotoGP pushed for the event to be moved to Melbourne’s city-centre Albert Park F1 circuit, presumably in search of greater spectator numbers and better track facilities.
Not helped by extreme weather forecasts, Phillip Island had a Sunday attendance of 37,000 fans last season. That was still roughly equal to Silverstone and COTA, while almost double the fans for Qatar. The weekend attendance was counted as 90,000 fans.
The Victorian Government "ruled out a request from Dorna Sports [MotoGP SEG] to move the event from Phillip Island to Albert Park" while offering "additional funding" for the event to stay at Phillip Island, where local businesses had launched a campaign to keep the race.
However, it has now lost the event to Adelaide, in what is the biggest surprise so far of MotoGP's new Liberty era.
"We were not willing to sell out Phillip Island"
The Victorian Government has given its version of events:
Casey Stoner reacts
Australian MotoGP Legend Casey Stoner, who was undefeated at Phillip Island from 2007-2012, has given his reaction to the news that the grand prix is moving to Adelaide:
"The world’s first MotoGP race on a street circuit"
"This is a major coup for South Australia and yet more evidence our state has real momentum,” said the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas.
“We are now competing with the rest of the nation for the world’s best events - and winning.
“Hosting the world’s first MotoGP race on a street circuit will give Adelaide a truly unique offering that is sure to attract visitors from interstate and overseas.
"This is about so much more than a world‑class motorsport event - it’s about generating economic activity for our state, supporting jobs, and putting South Australia on the global stage.
"We back major events that deliver a strong economic return, and MotoGP does exactly that. MotoGP is growing globally at record pace - and Adelaide will now be a key part of that growth story."
Phillip Island's final MotoGP, at least for the foreseeable future, will take place on 23-25 October.
The circuit's season-opening WorldSBK round is then set to become its leading international event, although there are rumours its future could also be impacted by the loss of MotoGP.
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