Riders to roll from San Remo as the Island farewells MotoGP
Four days of farewells start on Thursday October 22 with a community celebration in Cowes and a shopfront competition for local businesses.
RIDERS will roll from San Remo to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and on to Cowes on Thursday October 22 in a Homecoming Ride opening four days of farewells for the Island’s final MotoGP.
The ride will end with a community farewell in Cowes, launching a Bass Coast Shire Council program billed as the ultimate send-off for the 30th and last Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, from October 23 to 25.
The Cowes MotoGP Entertainment Precinct will then run through to Sunday October 25, with a big screen broadcasting the on-track action alongside three nights of live music and a Sunday DJ set.
Council is also encouraging local businesses to get behind the send-off through its Rev Up Your Shopfront competition, calling for race-themed window displays, promotions and menus in the lead-up to the event.
Australian riders Jack Miller in the premier class and Moto2’s Senna Agius and Moto3’s Joel Kelso will be chasing strong results in front of their home crowd.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Travis Auld said the milestone made 2026 the right year to freeze ticket prices and let more fans experience the farewell.
“We know how much Phillip Island means to motorsport fans, and this will be a truly special year,” Mr Auld said.
“This final return to one of the world’s greatest racing destinations will be even more meaningful.”
Ticket prices have been frozen for 2026, with general admission starting at $50 and no increase on last year across grandstands, hospitality, parking and Catch-a-Coach.
The race moves to a new Adelaide street circuit from 2027, a loss confirmed in February after the State Government turned down a request from rights holder Dorna Sports to move it to Albert Park, instead offering increased marketing and financial support to keep it on the Island.
The blow was compounded in June when Phillip Island also lost the World Superbike Championship to South Australia, with that event heading to The Bend from 2028 and the Island hosting its final Superbikes round in 2027.
An Ernst and Young study in 2023 found the MotoGP alone delivered $54.4 million in direct local spend within Bass Coast and supported about 284 full-time equivalent jobs.
Destination Phillip Island has estimated the two events together are worth more than $70 million a year to the Victorian economy, while council has warned the MotoGP’s departure could leave a $290 million gap over the next decade.
Mayor Brett Tessari and Deputy Mayor Ron Bauer took the case to Spring Street in May armed with the council’s Repositioning Phillip Island Economic Future report, and in August the council backed a Municipal Association of Victoria push for a state-funded Regional Transition Fund to shield local businesses.
The State Government has said it remains in talks with council and local tourism bodies about what could fill the October 2027 timeslot.
None of that has dented the crowds, with last year’s race drawing the biggest turnout since 2012.
Details on the Homecoming Ride, entertainment lineup and shopfront competition are at basscoast.vic.gov.au.
