Cash on offer to convince organisers to keep MotoGP on Phillip Island

Victorian government offers cash to try to secure Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip IslandBy Madeleine StuchberyABC GippslandTopic:Motor Sports1m ago1 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 1:30amThe contract for the Australian Moto GP to be held at Phillip Island is set to expire. (Supplied: Ading Attamimi)In short:The Victorian government has offered additional funding to keep the Australian MotoGP on Phillip Island. The contract for the Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Phillip Island track is set to expire this year. What's next?It is not clear if event organiser Dorna Sports will accept the Victorian government's financial offer. abc.net.au/news/phillip-island-moto-gp-financial-lifeline-victorian-tourism/106330292Link copiedShareShare articleThe Victorian government has made a bid to keep the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Phillip Island, offering to pay its operator to keep the event in regional Victoria.The government says it is promising additional funding as an incentive to operator Dorna Sports to continue to stage the event at Phillip Island in October.But the government will not reveal how much it has offered, and it is unclear whether Dorna Sports has accepted the lifeline.The MotoGP has been held at the Phillip Island track since the 1990s and draws thousands of tourists to Gippsland's Bass Coast each year. Marco Bezzecchi of Italy for Aprilia Racing during the 2025 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island. (AAP: Joel Carrett)'We've put our best foot forward'Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said 91,000 visitors attended the event last year.The ABC understands Dorna Sports wants to move it to Melbourne's Albert Park, a request Mr Dimopoulos said the state government opposed."We're not selling out Phillip Island," he said."The negotiations are still on foot. And we've put our best foot forward."Campaign to save eventLast year, residents of the island and the Bass Coast Shire Council issued an urgent call for support to have the event contract renewed.Bass Coast Mayor Rochelle Halstead said she had received scant details about the financial aid, but said the offer spoke to the local community's campaign to save the track.Rochelle Halstead says the community is rallying to keep the MotoGP at Phillip Island. (Supplied: Jarrod Whittaker)Cr Halstead said a petition with more than 4,000 signatures was submitted to the government last year."I'm absolutely thrilled. There was a lot of concern that this may not happen and that's why we started a campaign. People came out and showed their love for the race," she said."I'm hoping as part of the agreement to see an infrastructure investment at the site to bring it to international standards, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's in the contract and how long that has been signed for."But [the GP] is absolutely part of the Bass Coast community fabric."The Superbike World Championships will be held on the island later this week.The ABC has contacted Dorna Sports for comment.Posted 1m ago1 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 1:30amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop Stories'You make your bed, you lie in it': Albanese's warning to 'ISIS brides' in SyriaTopic:Unrest, Conflict and War