Marco Bezzecchi
Dorna, now MotoGP Sports Entertainment, has been pushing to move the Australian Grand Prix from Phillip Island to an alternative circuit.
Phillip Island has been on the MotoGP calendar since it returned permanently in 1997. Renewing its contract with the sport for another year in 2025, it is hugely popular among fans and riders.
How confident are you that Phillip Island will remain in MotoGP beyond 2026?
However, the facilities have long been criticised as outdated, which has led Dorna to consider their options for the Australian Grand Prix. They are looking to move on from Phillip Island, with MotoGP openly exploring the idea of street circuits.
It comes after Liberty Media’s takeover of the sport last year as they look to emulate their success in F1 with MotoGP. Albert Park has been one track linked with hosting the Australian GP, but the intention of the Victorian government is to stay at Phillip Island.
MotoGP in ‘advanced’ talks to move Australian Grand Prix from Phillip Island to The Bend Motorsport Park
MotoGP’s proposal to move to Albert Park has been knocked back by the Victorian government. They are determined to keep the Australian GP at Phillip Island, but officials are still looking at alternatives.
A report from Speedweek notes that Dorna had been pushing to move Australia to the start of the calendar, rather than in October. However, this would clash too closely with the Formula 1 season opener at Albert Park and the WSBK season opener would be postponed.
Fans are desperate to keep the race at Phillip Island, but the sport’s governing body is assessing its options. There were reports that MotoGP would move to a new street circuit in Adelaide, but they have now found another potential track.
Speedweek reports that The Bend Motorsport Park, which is ‘reachable from Adelaide by car in one hour’, is in ‘advanced’ talks to take over the Australian GP in MotoGP.
‘The Bend’ has eight different layouts, with the GT version standing at 7.7km. The International Circuit, which is 4.95km and has an 85-meter elevation change, would be more suitable for MotoGP, and it has ‘long been eyeing major international events’.
What Carlos Ezpeleta proposed about the Australian Grand Prix amid Phillip Island uncertainty
For fans and the track officials, Phillip Island must stay on the MotoGP calendar. Sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta, son of Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, has been looking to resolve the situation.
A report from Motorsport Espana says that Ezpeleta visited Australia at the end of 2025. There, he outlined two proposals for extending Phillip Island’s agreement with MotoGP.
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One was to inject additional funds to ‘modernise’ the circuit and improve its facilities. The second, which MotoGP and Dorna have been pushing for, is a relocation.
The Victorian government has agreed to provide extra funding to make the Australian GP ‘bigger and better beyond 2026’. But their one condition is clear: Phillip Island stays on the calendar.
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