Phillip Island will host its final MotoGP race in 2026 before it drops off the calendar. Casey Stoner says it is absolutely ‘worth’ remaining on the calendar, but admits there is a problem with the circuit.
Phillip Island will no longer host a MotoGP race from 2027 as the Australian Grand Prix moves to an all-new street circuit in Adelaide. The news was widely criticised by fans, experts and riders, as it stands as one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
Known for its tricky, high-speed course and great racing action, the track is loved by many in the paddock, but it will not be on the calendar come 2027. It was even suggested that Phillip Island could be turned into a golf course, but this has been emphatically denied.
Is Phillip Island too dangerous for MotoGP?
Casey Stoner admits Phillip Island is ‘difficult’ to get to even if the track is ‘worth it’
While people are widely against the idea of bikes on a street circuit, many have been quick to point out the problems with the current Australian GP venue. Marc Marquez noted the dangers of Phillip Island and highlighted the need to focus on rider safety.
Jack Miller says Phillip Island has a logistical issue, as the track is tough to get to, and he reckons Adelaide will sort that problem. Fellow Aussie Stoner agrees, saying that while the track is ‘worth it’, it is tough for fans to visit.
Talking about Phillip Island’s exit from MotoGP, he told GPOne: “It’s very disappointing, but it shows the direction that this world is going, and it’s not for the purity of the racing anymore. It’s something that I’ve been fighting a lot.
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“The direction of MotoGP, it’s making the same mistakes that Formula 1 made for many years. We’re having all the same issues with the aero becoming everything and all these extra devices that we have on the bikes that we don’t need.
“Formula 1 got rid of these things many years ago. It’s still very technologically advanced, but not even compared to what MotoGP keeps adding to the bikes.
“So, there needs to be some limitations put. And now we’re seeing that they’re going to try and make a street circuit, and there’s no way you can make a street circuit safe enough.
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“We saw what happened to Bezzecchi arriving in the wall in Assen. Even though we have all these circuits with lots of space, we still arrive in the wall. How do you think a street circuit’s going to go for that?
“And honestly, we had it in a fantastic location. Okay, sometimes around the event, it wasn’t the most easy to get to and things like this, but the track was worth it.
“The track produced the best racing every single year. It produces something special, and now we’ve lost that. So, it’s a big disappointment.”
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