Victoria loses WorldSBK to South Australia
After it was announced earlier this year that the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit would not be hosting the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after 2026, it’s been revealed that the Victorian circuit will also lose the Australian round of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) after 2027.
From 2028, the Australian round of WorldSBK will be held at The Bend (aka Shell V-Power Motorsport Park) in South Australia in what’s been described as a “multi-year agreement”.
"Australia holds a special place in the history of WorldSBK and remains an important market for our championship, manufacturers, teams and fans,” said Gregorio Lavilla, former WorldSBK rider and current Executive Director for the championship.
“We are pleased to confirm The Bend as the future home of the Australian Round. The venue offers excellent facilities and a strong commitment to motorsport, providing a solid platform for the next chapter of WorldSBK in Australia.”
South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, added: "Securing WorldSBK further strengthens South Australia's position as Australia's motorsport capital and will deliver significant economic, tourism and profile benefits across the state, and in particular our regions.
“South Australia has built one of the strongest motorsport portfolios in the country. From the world-class facilities at The Bend to the Adelaide street circuit, we are attracting premier events, passionate fans and global attention.”
Move to Modernity?
Why the move is being made away from Phillip Island has yet to be fully explained, but a WorldSBK press release cites The Bend as “one of Australia's leading motorsport facilities,” with “modern infrastructure,” suggesting Phillip Island lacks both or is in some way sub-par – something many fans and riders would disagree with.
"Securing WorldSBK is a significant achievement for The Bend and marks a historic day for motorsport and for South Australia,” said Sam Shahin, Managing Director at The Bend.
“From the outset, our vision has been to create a proud facility capable of attracting the world's leading motorsport categories and hosting the highest levels of international competition. A decade on, we celebrate a major milestone; WorldSBK is coming.
“WorldSBK has an incredibly passionate global fanbase, and we look forward to welcoming them to The Bend and delivering an event experience that reflects the significance of this championship and its place on the international calendar."
Long History
Phillip Island has been a staple on the WorldSBK calendar since 1990 (the first two Australian rounds were held at Oran Park). The 4.445km circuit has usually hosted the opening round of the championship, as well as the final pre-season test.
Over more than 30 years, the Island has witnessed champions like Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Colin Edwards, Carlos Checa, Max Biaggi, Jonathan Rea and, most recently, Toprak Razgatlioglu. Phillip Island has also seen iconic moments, like Troy Corser wrapping up the 1996 championship, and Anthony Gobert’s against-the-odds win in 2000 on a Bimota in the wet.
Future Impact
Obviously, losing MotoGP and WorldSBK is a blow to the Phillip Island circuit owners and promoters, as well as businesses on the island and surrounding areas of Bass Shire that rely on the money that attendees at both events bring. At time of writing, no obvious replacement for these major events has been promoted or even speculated. It also casts doubt on the long-term future of the Phillip Island circuit without such international exposure.
The deal to move WorldSBK’s Australian round to The Bend in 2028 was apparently locked in at the same time as the MotoGP deal for the Adelaide Street Circuit back in February, but only announced in June.
