MotoGP riders prepare for Phillip Island farewell before planned Adelaide move
Marc Marquez expects an emotional final Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island as the championship prepares to move the event to Adelaide in 2027.
MotoGP is expected to race at Phillip Island for the last time at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, ending the circuit’s long run as the event’s home before a planned move to Adelaide in 2027. Marc Marquez, second in the riders’ championship, said the farewell would be emotional as he prepares to pursue leader Jorge Martín at the Australian circuit.
Phillip Island has been a fixture on the calendar since 1997. AFP reported that its contract expires this year and that the Adelaide event is planned under a six-year arrangement. The circuit’s waterfront setting and demanding layout have made it a favourite among riders.
Marquez and Bagnaia on the Phillip Island farewell
‘Phillip Island is an extraordinary circuit, racing here for the last time will be emotional,’ Marquez said, according to Crash.net. He called its layout ‘unique’ and ‘breathtaking’. The Ducati rider is a four-time winner there, according to AFP, which also recalled his high-speed crash with Johann Zarco in 2018.
Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia has never won at Phillip Island, although he finished third in 2022 and second in 2023. AFP quoted him describing the track as a circuit with ‘incredible charm, an extraordinary layout, and pure adrenaline’. Those podium finishes helped his title-winning campaigns in those years.
The championship stakes in Australia
Martín arrives as championship leader with 355 points, according to iMotorbike’s account of Aprilia’s race preview. He finished fourth in the sprint and third in the main race at the preceding Indonesian Grand Prix, results that returned him to the top of the standings. Marquez trails him by two points heading into the Australian weekend, Crash.net reported.
Marco Bezzecchi won the Indonesian race and remains in the title contest. AFP put the Aprilia rider 44 points behind Marquez before the Phillip Island round, with five rounds left in the season. The farewell therefore comes during a close fight for the championship, rather than after its outcome has been settled.
Why the Australian Grand Prix is set to move
AFP reported that MotoGP’s promoter wanted to broaden the event’s appeal by moving it to Melbourne’s Albert Park, the Australian Formula One venue. Negotiations broke down after the Victorian government insisted the race remain at Phillip Island, and South Australia secured the planned Adelaide event. This weekend’s race has yet to take place; the Adelaide switch is scheduled for 2027.
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Sources and context
- MotoGP riders prepare for 'emotional' farewell to Phillip IslandAFP, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Marc Marquez predicts “emotional” MotoGP weekend at “breathtaking” Phillip IslandCrash.net
- Aprilia Racing Ready for Australian MotoGP at Phillip IslandiMotorbike; report by Amzar Hazeeq
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.