Victoria is set to lose the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after having hosted the race for nearly 30 years, with South Australia set to become its new home.
The move is a major blow for the Victorian government, who had reportedly been in negotiations for several months with rights holder Dorna Sports over an extension on the deal to host the MotoGP race.
According to the Australian Financial Review, Dorna Sports had applied to the government to move the race from its usual home at Phillip Island to Albert Park.
However, Jacinta Allan’s office reportedly blocked the request, stating that it would provide more funding to make the race ‘bigger and better’ on the proviso that it stayed on Phillip Island.
While an official confirmation is yet to come, it is expected that the race is now due to be hosted in Adelaide from 2027 onwards.
Victoria’s tourism, sport and major events minister Steve Dimopoulos insisted that the government was unwilling to ‘sell out Phillip Island.’
‘I’m very disappointed after 29 years of what has been an extraordinary partnership,’ Dimopoulos said.
‘I wish MotoGP all the best with their second choice.’
While a disappointment for Victoria, it is a major coup for South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas, particularly ahead of the upcoming state elections in March.
South Australia had initially been the host of the great race before Melbourne pinched it in the early 1990s.
Malinauskas was asked about obtaining the race on Wednesday, stating that he was ‘not going to start playing speculative games’.
‘We’re not interested in a bidding contest,’ the Premier said, speaking on his office’s desire to bring more high-profile sporting events to South Australia.
‘We always look at opportunities and we form a view about what something is worth but I’m not getting into a bidding contest.’
More to follow…
