PHILLIP ISLAND SET FOR ITS FINAL MOTOGP AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

MotoGP’s 2026 Australian Grand Prix will be the championship’s final visit to Phillip Island, with the event scheduled for October 23–25. The iconic 4.4km circuit will be replaced from 2027 by a modern version of the Adelaide street circuit. Melbourne is expected to draw a record crowd as it bids farewell to premier-class racing at Phillip Island. The move has drawn criticism, including over plans to remove trees in Victoria Park to provide run-off space. Phillip Island has hosted the Australian GP every year since 1997 and is widely cherished by riders and fans, but the change follows years of concern about the circuit’s limited infrastructure and lack of investment. The track was given a 10-year contract in 2016 on the expectation that it would be upgraded.

The farewell weekend carries added significance for Jack Miller: it will be his last MotoGP Grand Prix on home soil. He is leaving Pramac at the end of 2026 to join Yamaha in WorldSBK, where he is due to make his debut at Phillip Island in the opening round of the 2027 season.

The event also arrives at a pivotal point in the title contest. Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by just two points, while Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi sits third, 46 points behind. Phillip Island’s layout could suit both Aprilia and Ducati, making the race a potentially important test in the championship battle. Marquez has won the Australian GP five times across all classes, including four MotoGP victories at the circuit. He missed last year’s race through injury. In 2025, Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez claimed his first MotoGP Grand Prix win, finishing 1.418 seconds ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio; Bezzecchi was third, 2.410 seconds behind. Martin was also absent that year while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Two riders will miss the 2026 round after injuries in Indonesia. Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer fractured the base of his right hand’s first metacarpal in a crash and underwent surgery. He hopes to return for the Malaysian GP, with Ducati WorldSBK rider Iker Lecuona replacing him at Phillip Island. Pramac’s Toprak Razgatlioglu dislocated his shoulder during practice at Mandalika and will miss the rest of the season. Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez is set to take his place for the remaining rounds.

Weather could complicate the weekend. Friday practice is forecast to be dry, with temperatures reaching about 24°C for FP1 and 28°C for practice. Saturday’s qualifying and Sprint may face rain, with highs around 19°C and 16°C respectively. Sunday could bring the wettest conditions: rain may affect warm-up and the support races, and the MotoGP Grand Prix itself could be run in rain, with a forecast high of 12°C.

The 13-lap Sprint is scheduled for Saturday, followed by the 27-lap Grand Prix on Sunday. UK viewers can watch live on TNT Sports, though the sessions fall in the early hours. Quest is due to show a full replay of the Sprint, while highlights will be available through the official MotoGP and TNT Sports YouTube channels.