Australian MotoGP
Under Threat
T
he future of the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Is-
land has been thrown into uncertainty, with the
event's current contract set to expire at the end of
the 2026 season and no extension yet confirmed.
Phillip Island has been a fixture on the MotoGP
calendar for decades and is widely regarded as one
of the championship's most iconic venues. How
-
ever, rising operational costs, logistical challenges,
and shifting priorities within the global MotoGP
calendar have placed the long-term viability of the
Australian round under scrutiny.
Organizers and local stakeholders have reportedly
expressed concerns about the increasing financial
burden required to host a MotoGP event, particularly
as freight costs and international travel expenses
continue to climb. Australia's geographic distance
from the majority of the MotoGP calendar has long
posed challenges, and recent calendar reshuffles
have intensified pressure on flyaway events.
MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna Sports
has also expressed repeated concerns about the
state of the infrastructure at the venue, which has
not seen any financial input for decades.
Weather is another factor that has complicated
discussions. Phillip Island's unpredictable spring
conditions have frequently impacted scheduling and
on-track sessions, forcing timetable changes and, at
times, raising safety concerns. While the circuit re
-
mains popular with riders for its fast, flowing layout,
the climate has been cited as a recurring issue for
event organizers.
VOLUME ISSUE DECEMBER , P49
A lack of investment
in Phillip Island
infrastructure could
lead to the Australian
GP being canceled after
the 2026 event.
Dorna Sports has not confirmed whether ne-
gotiations for a contract extension are underway,
and no alternative Australian venue has been
publicly proposed.
If a new agreement is not reached, the 2026
Australian MotoGP could be the final appearance
of the event at Phillip Island, the venue having
first hosted the 500cc Grand Prix in 1989.
CN
Racers Speak:
SuperMotocross
2026 Media Day
C
ycle News attended a Feld Motorsports-
hosted multi-day preseason media event
at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, for a
sort of preview of the upcoming 2026 Monster
Energy AMA Supercross Championship and Su
-
perMotocross World Championship, which kicks
off on January 10, 2026, at Angel Stadium.
Over the two days, Cycle News spoke with
several riders, especially those on new teams,
such as Eli Tomac and Jorge Prado, who both
joined Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and Chase
Sexton and Garrett Marchbanks, who make
up the rejuvenated Monster Energy Kawasaki
Team. Plus, we hear from defending Supercross
Champion Cooper Webb, who says he's more
motivated to defend the number one plate than
he has ever been before. The reigning SuperMo
-
tocross World Champion, Jett Lawrence, speaks
out, as do many of the other top competitors.
Click here to listen to what many of them had
to say.
CN
Three-time
Supercross
Champion Cooper
Webb says he's
ready to defend the
number one plate
in Supercross and
that he'll be a
free agent at the
end of the 2026
season.
