The Australian MotoGP round will move from Phillip Island to Adelaide in 2027 as the championship prepares for its first inner-city race of this century.

MotoGP has raced at Phillip Island since 1997, with only two years without the track on the calendar in the past 29 seasons of the championship as a result of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Before that, MotoGP raced its Australian Grand Prix at Eastern Creek, now Sydney Motorsport Park, meaning the new Adelaide circuit will be the third venue to host a race in Australia.

The Adelaide circuit proposed is a street track. Some of it, from renders of a track map, appears to run through a grassy area, but MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta did not shy away from describing it as a circuit on the “city streets” of Adelaide.

“Bringing MotoGP to Adelaide marks a major milestone in the evolution of our championship,” said Ezpeleta.

“This city has a world‑class reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the opportunity to design a purpose‑built circuit in the city streets is something truly unique in our sport.

“From the very beginning, together with the FIM, we made sure that safety remained uncompromised – every element of the Adelaide Street Circuit has been engineered to meet the highest standards of modern MotoGP, ensuring riders can race at full intensity with complete confidence.

“Adelaide’s commitment to major events makes it the perfect home for MotoGP’s next chapter in Australia. We’re incredibly excited to showcase a new style of racing here and to create a true celebration of our sport that brings fans even closer to the action.

“This partnership represents bold ambition from both MotoGP and Australia - and we couldn’t be prouder to begin this journey together."

The Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, added: “This is a major coup for South Australia and yet more evidence our state has real momentum. We are now competing with the rest of the nation for the world’s best events – and winning. 

“Hosting the world’s first MotoGP race on a street circuit will give Adelaide a truly unique offering that is sure to attract visitors from interstate and overseas.

“This is about so much more than a world‑class motorsport event - it’s about generating economic activity for our state, supporting jobs, and putting South Australia on the global stage.

“We back major events that deliver a strong economic return, and MotoGP does exactly that. MotoGP is growing globally at record pace - and Adelaide will now be a key part of that growth story.”