MotoGP will switch from the seaside Victorian venue to a heavily revised Adelaide parklands layout in 2027.
The deal was struck by the South Australian Government in February amid MotoGP’s plan to grow the sport with inner-city races.
Adelaide authorities are currently working through a major revamp of the circuit to accommodate the safety standards required for motorcycles.
It’s by far the biggest ever shake-up to the circuit that was designed by Barnard for Formula 1 in 1985 and shortened for the Supercars event that began in 1999.
Phillip Island is meanwhile also set to lose the World Superbike Championship from its schedule in 2028, with SA snaring that event for The Bend.
The Victorian Government is currently exploring options to maintain the health of Phillip Island’s tourism economy, including other motorsport events.
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation, which promotes both the Albert Park F1 event and Phillip Island MotoGP, is in talks with Supercars about a return to the Island next November.
Barnard brought MotoGP to Phillip Island in 1989, redeveloping the historic venue for the event through his Barfield company.
In a lengthy open letter shared by veteran MotoGP journalist Matt Oxley and reproduced in full below, Barnard expresses fears Phillip Island could be redeveloped into a golf course.
Owner Lindsay Fox had proposals to add a golf resort on land nearby the race circuit knocked back by the government in the years after buying the venue in 2004.
A circuit project at Fox’s Avalon Airport announced in 2023 has meanwhile stalled over funding, while the property and transport tycoon has remained silent regarding Phillip Island’s future.
Barnard made headlines in May when he claimed it’ll cost the SA government $100m to redevelop the Adelaide circuit for motorcycle racing.
“When I heard of the plan to move the Australian MotoGP round from Phillip Island to a street track in Adelaide I adopted a position that after 30 years of living away from Australia it was no longer my place to have an opinion,” Barnard wrote.
“I also took the view that as the person responsible for the creation of the current Phillip Island Circuit and bringing the event to Australia in 1989, and also as the person who created the Adelaide F1 track I should remain impartial.
“As some of you are aware I have been asked about my opinion, and answered that it was not an issue for me to be involved in, but offered my thoughts on its viability, having moved the race myself to Sydney, where it stayed for only six years, before returning to Phillip Island, but at least leaving a permanent circuit for the State of New South Wales.
“Recent comments suggest that after losing both the GP and the WSBK the owner of the Phillip Island Circuit property, Lindsay Fox, may turn it into a golf course. Mr Fox is already engaged in attempting to build a new circuit at Avalon in Victoria.
“It now concerns me that the decisions by Liberty Media, the owner of MotoGP Sport Entertainment, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP and WSBK, and the South Australian State Government will result in the loss of both iconic circuits, lost and gone forever.
“For an increase in share price for one and votes for the other, neither thinking of the good of the sport or the heritage they represent.
“The new Adelaide layout is not the original circuit and will not replace what is regularly voted on as the best F1 street circuit in the world, nor the best motorcycle GP circuit as expressed by the riders.
“What would be the outcry if Bathurst were to be revamped for MotoGP, changing the layout, or worse, closed and sold for a golf course?
“Phillip Island preceded Bathurst, with the first Australian Grand Prix being staged there in 1923, while the Bathurst 1000 evolved from the Armstrong 500 at the current circuit.
“The current opposition in Adelaide is focused on the loss of the heritage of the Parklands, the public space, tree canopy and fauna. South Australia risks sacrificing mature Parklands trees while Victoria risks losing Phillip Island Circuit.
“Instead of creating a new asset, Australia may simply destroy two internationally recognised assets to create one uncertain replacement.
“Australia should not be forced to choose between motorsport and environmental heritage. We should not lose the world’s best street track and possibly lose the best motorcycle race track while sacrificing Adelaide’s Parklands
“Before irreversible decisions are made we deserve to see the full circuit design and true environmental footprint, the financial case, and an honest assessment of whether destroying two world-class assets is really progress.
“The local Adelaide community’s interests and the motorsport enthusiasts interests should therefore be aligned on this issue, and I am disappointed not more of those involved in both two and four-wheeled motorsport have spoken out.
“After careful consideration I am now strongly opposing this proposed intention to relocate the MotoGP to a yet unknown and yet to be built circuit in the Adelaide Parklands.”
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