A petition has been launched by the Bass Coast Shire Council to secure a long-term future for the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, located off the coast of Melbourne, has been the host of the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix since 1997, having also hosted the race in 1989 and 1990 before being replaced until 1996 by Eastern Creek (now Sydney Motorsport Park).

It’s a circuit which has become one of the most beloved in motorcycle racing during its time hosting the Australian rounds of both MotoGP and WorldSBK, with its fast, flowing layout often providing some of the best racing of any given season as well as providing spectacular camera shots of riders sliding their way through corners like turn three and the final corner.

However, it’s one whose geography works to its disadvantage, especially in mid-to-late-October when MotoGP typically heads there. Cold weather often affects the grand prix weekend as wind blows in from the south, and there is regularly a threat of rain.

Poor weather in 2023 saw the premier class race moved to the Saturday and the Sprint cancelled.

Phillip Island is also an incredibly remote circuit, and typically has a Sunday crowd of around 30,000–40,000 – a number dwarfed by the most successful grands prix in Europe such as those at Le Mans or Jerez.

The circuit’s current contract with MotoGP expires at the end of 2026, meaning next year’s race, scheduled for 23–25 October, could be the last Australian Grand Prix to be held at Phillip Island.

Suggestions were made during this year’s Australian MotoGP weekend that the future of the race could be at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit – a street circuit – which has hosted F1 since 1997, but which also recently underwent substantial alterations to its layout that increased the average speed by removing chicances and adjusting the profile of some corners.

However, the petition launched by Bass Coast Shire Council is aiming to convince the state government of Victoria to invest in Phillip Island to allow the circuit to improve its facilities in an effort to keep the MotoGP race there on a long-term basis.

The petition also makes the case for the race on an economic level: “This event delivers significant economic and employment benefits for both Bass Coast and Victoria. 

“The 2023 Ernst & Young economic impact study found the Grand Prix generated $54.6 million [Australian] in economic benefit for the State, including $29.4 million [Australian] in direct local spend within Bass Coast.”

At the time of writing, the petition has 1,272 signatures.