SA set to swoop as Victoria loses MotoGP

Steve Larkin |

Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit is set to lose the Australian Motorcycle GP to South Australia.
Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit is set to lose the Australian Motorcycle GP to South Australia.

South Australia is set to pinch the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix from Victoria.

SA is expected to confirm on Thursday it will host the grand prix from 2027.

Victoria’s government wanted to keep the grand prix at Phillip Island, where it has been held since 1997, having previously playing host in 1989 and 1990.

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Australian great Casey Stoner won the MotoGP race at Phillip Island six times from 2007 to 2012. (Joe Castro/AAP PHOTOS)

The Allan government opposed a demand from race organisers, the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, formerly known as Dorna Sports, for a shift to Melbourne’s Albert Park to boost mainstream appeal.

Any move to Albert Park – the venue of Melbourne’s Formula One grand prix – would have required track expansion and likely removal of trees to cater for motorcycling’s larger run-off areas. 

Phillip Island’s final Australian MotoGP will be held from October 23-25 this year, with the loss of the event a major blow for the island’s tourism and economy.

Last year’s event at Phillip Island attracted 93,000 spectators. The grand prix was estimated to generate more than $54 million a year in economic benefit to Victoria.

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Despite its remote location, Phillip Island attracted healthy crowds to the spectacular circuit. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

The island has become synonymous with the MotoGP world championship round, particularly given a sustained stretch of local and big-name success.

Australia’s Casey Stoner won the MotoGP race at Phillip Island in six consecutive years from 2007, while Italian legend Valentino Rossi has the most wins on the track – six in the premier class (500cc then MotoGP) and two in 250cc.

Fellow Aussie greats Mick Doohan (1998) and Wayne Gardner (1989, 1990) were also 500cc race winners at the circuit.

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Five-time world champ Mick Doohan enjoys his victory lap after winning at Phillip Island in 1998. (AP PHOTO)

The island struck a 10-year deal to host the grand prix in 2016, intended to underwrite investment that never fully materialised which left infrastructure lagging behind MotoGP’s ambitions.

As the Victorian government’s impasse with organisers over Phillip Island continued, SA’s government swooped, seemingly with a promise to stage the grand prix on an Adelaide street circuit.

Until that street circuit was ready, an initial race in SA could be staged at The Bends Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend, about 100km south-east of Adelaide.

SA and Victorian governments have been approached for comment.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has made known his desire to attract more major sporting events to his state.

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SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has been active in seeking big sporting events for his state. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

But earlier Wednesday, Malinauskas was tight-lipped about securing the MotoGP, saying he was “not going to start playing speculative games”.

“We’re not interested in a bidding contest,” he said.

“We always look at opportunities and we form a view about what something is worth, but I’m not getting into a bidding contest.”

Malinauskas was instrumental in Adelaide and surrounds being given hosting rights for the AFL’s Gather Round, when all 18 clubs play in SA, and also LIV Golf, which has held an Australian tournament in Adelaide for the past four years.

SA hosted the Formula One grand prix at an Adelaide street circuit from 1985 to 1995 before losing the race to Melbourne’s Albert Park.

AAP