Unlike motorbike riders, serious golfers love bad weather. The legendary St Andrews Links
- home of golf - by John Allan. Creative commons.
- home of golf - by John Allan. Creative commons.
By Catherine Watson
SO WE lost the MotoGP. After almost three decades, the shire’s biggest event is heading to an Adelaide street circuit. Ninety thousand fans over three days. Tens of millions of dollars for the local economy. Gone to those sneaky South Australians.
There’s plenty of blame going on but a more interesting question is what comes next on Phillip island?
The loss of the iconic race has sparked a range of ideas from electric motorbikes to historic racing festivals, international golf, and even a long game of sweet revenge to win back the MotoGP.
SO WE lost the MotoGP. After almost three decades, the shire’s biggest event is heading to an Adelaide street circuit. Ninety thousand fans over three days. Tens of millions of dollars for the local economy. Gone to those sneaky South Australians.
There’s plenty of blame going on but a more interesting question is what comes next on Phillip island?
The loss of the iconic race has sparked a range of ideas from electric motorbikes to historic racing festivals, international golf, and even a long game of sweet revenge to win back the MotoGP.
Bass Coast Mayor Rochelle Halstead says the focus now is firmly on the future: “While its loss is a blow that will be felt deeply, we are not deterred. Council will continue to advocate strongly for new opportunities that support our visitor economy, strengthen local businesses and deliver lasting benefits for our community.”
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale says she’ll be inviting Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos to come down and talk with councillors, tourism bodies and others about opportunities.
There’s no shortage of ideas. Cr Tim O’Brien suggests the windswept coastline that often baffled motorbike riders is perfect for hosting an international-standard golf links course. Bad weather? Serious links players thrive on it. Think St Andrews in Scotland.
Golf tourism is big business and coastal links courses attract travellers from around the world, he says. And, unlike the MotoGP, it’s year round.
Mat Morgan, Bass Coast councillor and the Upper House Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria, reckons Phillip Island should seize the opportunity created by the global pause of the MotoE World Championship in 2026, and position the Island as the natural home of elite electric motorcycle racing.
“It makes sense for this iconic circuit to lead the transition to cleaner, quieter and future-focused racing.”
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale says she’ll be inviting Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos to come down and talk with councillors, tourism bodies and others about opportunities.
There’s no shortage of ideas. Cr Tim O’Brien suggests the windswept coastline that often baffled motorbike riders is perfect for hosting an international-standard golf links course. Bad weather? Serious links players thrive on it. Think St Andrews in Scotland.
Golf tourism is big business and coastal links courses attract travellers from around the world, he says. And, unlike the MotoGP, it’s year round.
Mat Morgan, Bass Coast councillor and the Upper House Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria, reckons Phillip Island should seize the opportunity created by the global pause of the MotoE World Championship in 2026, and position the Island as the natural home of elite electric motorcycle racing.
“It makes sense for this iconic circuit to lead the transition to cleaner, quieter and future-focused racing.”
“Remember, Phillip Island lost the race in 1993 to Eastern Creek, NSW for six years before coming home.” |
Cr Ronnie Bauer believes that after five years the gloss will have worn off the street circuit concept in South Australia and the motorcycle world will look yearningly back to Phillip Island.
“Taking away the MotoGP from Phillip Island is like taking the F1 away from Monaco for the reason it is too hard to pass on the streets of Monte Carlo.
“If the State Government of whatever persuasion budgets over the next six years to redevelop the facilities on Phillip Island to world-class standard we can then confidently tender for the MotoGP to return after the SA contract runs out in eight years.”
Others have suggested a week-long motorsport festival, something like England’s famous Goodwood Festival of Speed, featuring historic cars, modern race machines, classic motorcycles and new technology at a historic estate in West Sussex.
The Goodwood is part serious, part whacky and so successful that numbers are capped at 150,000 – a day!
“Taking away the MotoGP from Phillip Island is like taking the F1 away from Monaco for the reason it is too hard to pass on the streets of Monte Carlo.
“If the State Government of whatever persuasion budgets over the next six years to redevelop the facilities on Phillip Island to world-class standard we can then confidently tender for the MotoGP to return after the SA contract runs out in eight years.”
Others have suggested a week-long motorsport festival, something like England’s famous Goodwood Festival of Speed, featuring historic cars, modern race machines, classic motorcycles and new technology at a historic estate in West Sussex.
The Goodwood is part serious, part whacky and so successful that numbers are capped at 150,000 – a day!
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Mini Cooper S crossing the finish line of Forest Rally Stage. Photo: Neil, Wikipaedia. Creative Commons