Motorcyclist safety concerns loom ahead of MotoGP

Drivers across Bass Coast and South Gippsland are being warned to watch for motorcyclists as enthusiasts are set to fill the roads ahead of the Phillip Island MotoGP later this month.

It will be the final MotoGP at Phillip Island, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous for motorcyclists heading to the event.

October is Motorcyclist Awareness Month, with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) calling on drivers and riders to take greater care when sharing the road.

The MotoGP will take place from October 23 to 25, and the TAC will be promoting protective clothing and rider safety at the event.

Because the risks remain high.

Motorcycles comprise just four per cent of Victoria’s registered vehicles but account for 21 per cent of road deaths and around one-fifth of serious injuries.

TAC Head of Road Safety Samantha Cockfield said everyone has a responsibility to look out for each other on the roads.

“Motorcyclists remain overrepresented in our road trauma, and Motorcyclist Awareness Month is a reminder that road safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

This year’s campaign has arrived right amid strong concerns about the conditions of roads in the region.

In RACV’s 2026 My Country Road survey, the Strzelecki Highway between Leongatha and Mirboo North received more safety nominations than any other road in eastern Victoria.

The South Gippsland Highway between Loch and Leongatha ranked third.

And it was the same old culprit dominating the survey: potholes.

About 71 per cent of respondents identified potholes and poor road conditions as a safety concern, while 73 per cent called for resurfacing.

Separate data released with the Auditor-General’s road maintenance report showed 65.43 per cent of Bass Coast’s state roads were rated poor or very poor, the highest proportion across Gippsland’s six municipalities.

In South Gippsland, the figure was 38.59 per cent.

Local businesses are also seeing the damage firsthand, with Wonthaggi Tyrepower dealing with at least half a dozen cases of damaged tyres and rims each week.

Across Victoria, 1152 motorcyclists were seriously injured in 2025, up from 1030 in 2024.

And weekends accounted for more than 40 per cent of serious motorcycle injuries last year, with the time period between 2pm and 6pm being the most common for crashes.

This year, 22 motorcyclists have died on the road in Victoria, compared with 45 from the same time last year.