Phillip Island GP in jeopardy after Allan govt rejects Albert Park relocation

[p]The Australian GP contract is end to expire at the end of this season and is yet to be renewed because race promoters, who are now unhappy with raceweek infrastructure, have demanded either improvements to facilities such as the pit and paddock or a relocation of the race to Melbourne's inner city location of Albert Park, the host site of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.[/p][p]“[b]They need to make improvements to bring the event up to the standards we want for MotoGP, in terms of infrastructure, the pit area, the paddock and access,[/b]” MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta Gonzalez told [a href="https://au.motorsport.com/" target="_blank"]motorsport.com[/a] last weekend. [/p][p]Such complaints in recent years have included the inadequate size of the garage and of sealed parking for teams, who often have to leave support vehicles and other infrastructure in grassed areas.[/p][p]MotoGP also reportedly wants to move the Australian MotoGP from the end of the calendar to the start, which would make a move to Albert Park almost untenable due to a clash with the F1. [/p][p]According to [a href="https://www.speedweek.com/a/motogp/zum-letzten-mal-motogp-auf-phillip-island-petition-als-rettungsversuch" target="_blank"]Speedweek[/a], promoters have been exploring the potential of shifting the race from Victoria to South Australia's Supercars circuit at The Bend, a one-hour drive out of Adelaide. [/p][embed guid="181442ba-8734-4f12-b26c-f12c3df96a61" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIrSzozUjP0" social-type="youtube" /][p]Whilst not publicly revealing a dollar figure, the Victoria state government committed to "additional funding" for the existing circuit "on the condition that it remains at Phillip Island".[/p][p]making the investments that MotoGP deems necessary to continue the race at Albert Park, the Victoria state government dug their heels in on Tuesday and rejected a race at any location other than Albert Park.[/p][p]“[b]The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is synonymous with Phillip Island, and Victoria is proud to support it,[/b]” the government said in a public statement.[/p][p]“Today, the Allan Government rejected Dorna Sports’ request to move the event from Phillip Island to Albert Park."[/p][p]“[b]The MotoGP Grand Prix attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Phillip Island every year. It is good for tourism, for local businesses and for jobs.[/b]”[/p][p]It is yet to be seen whether MotoGP has accepted the offer made by the Victorian government, but negotiations will need to move quickly with this year's calendar announced in July 2025.[/p]