Phillip Island Revs Up for Final MotoGP

Phillip Island is bracing itself for the final lap of the MotoGP, an event that has turbocharged the island's summer tourism season every October for years. The racing weekend, which culminates in the World Superbikes event in February, has been a mainstay of the island's economy, but its impending departure to Adelaide in 2027 has left business operators and residents reeling.

The loss of the MotoGP has hit the island hard, with many struggling to come to terms with the emotional and financial impact. For Bass Coast Shire Mayor Brett Tessari, who worked at a caravan park on the island during the 1990s, the MotoGP has been a cherished part of the island's culture. "The vibe of the motorbikes coming in and the people, it was awesome," he said. "I remember being stuck on the [Phillip Island] bridge, trying to get over back to Wonthaggi and people were starting up barbecues and cooking sausages on the side of the road because we were at a standstill."

Tessari described the experience as "etched in your memory" and expressed his sadness at the event's impending departure. "To be the mayor, unfortunately, at the last one, it's pretty surreal and quite sad," he said.

For Samantha Hampstead, who runs a tattoo business in Cowes with her husband Jason, the MotoGP has been a key part of their business. As members of the social motorcycle club Trust No One, they are also key organisers of the annual community motorcycle convoy that heralds the start of the motoring weekend. "We do it because of the love of the ride," she said. "It's a full-blown rush when you have all these riders together."

Hampstead said the MotoGP was a crucial part of the island's culture and economy, with many business operators relying on the event for their busiest time of the year. "It's part of the island," she said.

Wolfgang Platzer, chief executive of the San Remo Fisherman's Co-Op, said the GP brought thousands of visitors to the island who may not otherwise have visited the region. "There would be a large portion of people that come here for the GP and see that the island and the area is very beautiful and then might think about, oh, we'll come back because we liked it and it was so beautiful," he said.

Platzer emphasised the need for the community to develop fresh ideas to attract tourists, saying "I think it's more important to find solutions, find alternatives instead of saying how long do we want to be miserable about it."

Destination Phillip Island chief executive Kim Storey said the event's loss had accelerated the need to broaden the island's outlook beyond motoring events. "The MotoGP has provided that platform of security and the resource for businesses," Ms Storey said.

The Bass Coast Shire Council and Destination Phillip Island have called for government funding to help develop new events, such as The Hills are Alive music festival, the Island Whale Festival, and a new festival of motorsports to capitalise on the island's motoring history.