Phillip Island will host its final MotoGP race in late October as the event moves to Adelaide starting in 2027. The MotoGP and World Superbikes events contribute about $80 million annually to the island’s economy. Local businesses, councillors, and tourism officials are seeking government support to address the economic impact of losing these events.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
Phillip Island will host its final MotoGP race at the end of October before the race moves to Adelaide in 2027.
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race → host → 2027
The GP and World Superbikes inject about $80 million into the island's economy each year.
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GP → inject → economy
Businesses, councillors and the island's tourism board are calling for government support.
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Businesses → call → support
Every October, Phillip Island emerges from a sleepy winter season and roars to life with the sound of motorcycles travelling in convoy to the MotoGP.
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Island → emerge → MotoGP
The weekend of racing turbocharges the island's summer tourism season, culminating in the World Superbikes event in February.
But Cowes and the broader island community are preparing to host their final MotoGP later this month at the picturesque cliff-side track, before the race moves to its new home in Adelaide from 2027.
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race → turbocharge → 2027
The loss has hit businesses and residents hard, with many reeling emotionally and financially.
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many → hit → businesses
During the 1990s, Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Brett Tessari worked at a caravan park on the island.
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Tessari → work → island
"The vibe of the motorbikes coming in and the people, it was awesome," he said.
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he → come → motorbikes
"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," Cr Tessari said.
"
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Tessari → remember → standstill
Things like that are just etched in your memory.
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Things → etch → memory
For the past decade, Samantha Hampstead has run a tattoo business in Cowes with her husband Jason.
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Hampstead → run → husband
They are both members of the social motorcycle club Trust No One, and are key organisers of the annual community motorcycle convoy that heralds the start of the motoring weekend.
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that → herald → weekend
"We do it because of the love of the ride," she said.
"
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she → do → ride
It's a full-blown rush when you have all these riders together.
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you → blow → riders
You look in the mirror and you can see this full parade of bikes behind you and it just goes on forever."
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it → look → you
Ms Hampstead said for many business operators the weekend was their busiest time of the year.
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weekend → say → year
"It's part of the island," she said.
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she → say → island
San Remo Fisherman's Co-Op chief executive Wolfgang Platzer said the GP brought thousands of visitors to the island who may not otherwise have visited the region.
uncertain
who → say → 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.
uncertain
he → come → it
Thinking beyond the track
Phillip Island is the state's most tourism-reliant region.
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Island → think → track
According to Destination Phillip Island (DPI), more than $80 million in annual economic activity is linked to the World Superbikes and the MotoGP.
uncertain
million → accord → Superbikes
The accommodation sector is the island's largest employer, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, accounting for almost 4 per cent of jobs.
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sector → accord → jobs
DPI chief executive Kim Storey said while the event's loss had accelerated the need to broaden the island's outlook beyond motoring events, the role the track had played could not be understated.
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track → say → events
Economic uncertainty, a lack of infrastructure such as a car ferry and the potential toll of the H5N1 virus on the island's wildlife were all cited by DPI as upcoming barriers to success.
"The MotoGP has provided that platform of security and the resource for businesses," Ms Storey said.
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Storey → cite → businesses
DPI and Bass Coast Shire Council have called for government funding to help develop new events, such as The Hills are Alive music festival, the Island Whale Festival, the island hot springs, and a new festival of motorsports to capitalise on the island's motoring history.
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Hills → call → history
One Nation candidate for Bass Nikole Schellekens, Liberal candidate Rochelle Halstead and Labor candidate Chris Buckingham were asked what commitments they would make to the island's economy if elected at the November state election.
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they → ask → election
All three candidates stressed the importance of tourism for Phillip Island and support for ongoing development of the island's resources.
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candidates → stress → resources
At the San Remo Fisherman's Co-Op, Mr Platzer said while everyone was feeling the loss of the race, the community would have to adjust.
"I think it's more important to find solutions, find alternatives instead of saying how long do we want to be miserable about it," he said.
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he → say → it
The Aporia