MotoGP aims to "bring racing closer to the cities"

Since the MotoGP With the transfer of the Australian Grand Prix from the legendary Phillip Island curves, one of the absolute jewels of the calendar, to the Adelaide street circuit, no track now seems safe. Driven by Liberty Media, the sport's new owner since 2025, MotoGP clearly aims to bring the spectacle closer to the fans to maximize commercial profitability.

Besides limited attendance due to its isolation (90,000 spectators in 2025), Phillip Island imposed too many logistical constraints and had poorly adapted facilities (boxes that were too small, in particular). [Adelaide] is better for public attendance. We will hopefully no longer have problems with wind and rain. (as in Phillip Island, editor's note)

In any case, security remains the top priority. Right now, it's very easy to say that [Phillip Island] was a magnificent track, which is true. But safety comes before everything else. I want to remind everyone that for Suzuka, which is a superb route, we could not continue to go there because it is not safe. "As a reminder, MotoGP has not raced there since the fatal accident of Daijirō Katō in 2003.

Safety comes first

The Adelaide circuit, theatre of the Formula 1 Between 1985 and 1995, it was poised to make history by becoming the very first street race in the MotoGP championship. While the new circuit was more accessible than Phillip Island, safety concerns remained. This was because MotoGP standards differed radically from those of the car that holds the top spot. " From the outset, in collaboration with the FIM, we ensured that safety was never compromised. reassures Carlos Ezpeleta, sporting director of MotoGP. Every element of the Adelaide street circuit has been designed to meet the highest standards of modern MotoGP so that riders can confidently ride at full speed. »

By its very nature, MotoGP favors flowing tracks. Its top speed (record of 366,1 km/h), lack of aerodynamic downforce, and poor cornering grip make high-speed turns complex and the kerbs unstable for the machines. Unlike F1, which makes do with asphalt run-off areas and abrasive paint, MotoGP requires large crash zones and gravel traps (3 to 6 mm gravel) to slow down any falls.

The original Adelaide circuit, adapted for F1, has thus been redesigned according to the constraints of MotoGP. It's a safe race, not an urban race. We're going to a place that we believe has every chance of being a fantastic circuit, right in the middle of a city, but with all the necessary safety features. »

Towards an urbanization of MotoGP

Carlos Ezpeleta, however, is ruling out a MotoGP race at the new Madring circuit, which will host Formula 1 for the first time from September 11 to 13, 2026. No, the security conditions we need are not in place. " he decides. " We are bringing the races closer to the cities. Goiânia is a permanent circuit located in the heart of the city. Next year we will go to Buenos Aires, which is also a permanent circuit right in the city center. That's the way forward. »

In this logic, new circuits could therefore continue to appear on the calendar, but with already 22 annual events, it would be necessary to sacrifice other historic tracks at the risk of agitating purists as well as drivers.

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