EZPELETA HONOURS PHILLIP ISLAND AS MOTOGP LOOKS TO ADELAIDE

MotoGP’s farewell to Phillip Island ended without the final race organisers and fans had hoped for. Poor visibility affected the rescue helicopter’s operation, forcing officials to cancel Sunday’s Grand Prix on safety grounds. Riders instead completed a farewell lap behind the Safety Car.

MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said the cancellation was deeply disappointing, particularly for fans who had travelled for the occasion and for a crowd expected to set a record. But, he added, the disappointment reflected the circuit’s importance: “There are very few sporting venues in the world that become part of a championship’s identity. Phillip Island is one of them.”

The Australian circuit first hosted a motorcycle world championship round in 1989. Its fast, flowing layout, dramatic setting beside the Bass Strait and passionate spectators helped create enduring moments in the sport. Ezpeleta said the track tested the world’s best riders and rewarded “courage, skill and determination” like few others, with battles against the backdrop of the sea becoming part of MotoGP’s history.

He thanked the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and everyone involved in building and running the event over the decades, praising their commitment and professionalism. Australian fans, whether from Victoria, elsewhere in the country or overseas, had brought a distinctive energy to the race, he said.

Ezpeleta also recognised the country’s contribution to the championship through riders including Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner and Jack Miller. That legacy is set to continue with Senna Agius, who is due to move up to MotoGP in 2027.

The series will relocate to Adelaide in 2027, and Ezpeleta presented the move as a chance to bring MotoGP to a wider audience. A city-centre event close to hotels, restaurants, entertainment and transport links could make the championship more accessible, he said, while extending the experience beyond the circuit. The ambition, he stressed, was not simply to change venues but to build on Australian motorcycle racing’s success and take it to “the next level.”

Ezpeleta said the Adelaide chapter would not have been possible without the foundations laid at Phillip Island. While the final weekend did not deliver the ending anyone wanted, he closed by thanking the circuit, the organisers, generations of Australian riders and the fans—and inviting them to meet again in Adelaide in 2027.