Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Phillip Island is the clifftop circuit on the Bass Strait coast south-east of Melbourne, where bikes top 330 km/h (205 mph) down Gardner Straight and then turn straight toward the ocean at Doohan Corner. MotoGP said goodbye in October 2026, but WorldSBK has one more visit and Supercars is coming back. Here’s what you’ll want to know before you go: the names, the history, a corner-by-corner lap, the lap records, what races there now and how to visit.
Phillip Island at a Glance
Length 4.448 km / 2.764 mi some series quote 4.445 km; same layout
Turns 12 7 lefts and 5 rights, run counter-clockwise
Main straight 835 m / 2,740 ft Gardner Straight, named for Wayne Gardner in 1993
First meeting December 1956 roads around the island hosted racing from 1928
Location & owner Ventnor, Victoria owned by Linfox Property Group since 2004
Race lap record 1:24.0607 Tim Slade, Brabham BT62, 2022
Phillip Island Circuit: Names, Corners and Who Owns It
Its full name is the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, though almost everyone just says “Phillip Island” or “the Island.” There’s no sponsor on the track itself; the sponsors attach to the events instead, so the 2026 MotoGP round, for example, was billed as the Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia.
What the circuit does have is a set of corners named after the riders who made it famous. The main straight became Gardner Straight in 1993, after Wayne Gardner won the first two motorcycle Grands Prix here in 1989 and 1990. Turn 1 is Doohan Corner, for five-time 500cc champion Mick Doohan. Turn 3 became Stoner Corner in 2012 to honor Casey Stoner’s run of home wins, and in 2022 the Turn 4 hairpin, long known as Honda, was renamed Miller Corner for Jack Miller. Lukey Heights, the blind crest late in the lap, is named for Len Lukey, who bought and revived the circuit in 1963.
Since 2004 the track has belonged to Linfox Property Group, part of Lindsay Fox’s transport and property business. After MotoGP and WorldSBK both announced they were leaving, the owner said in July 2026 that the circuit will keep running, and it has new events lined up for 2027.
Phillip Island History
Phillip Island’s story goes back further than almost any track in Australia, and it’s had more lives than most. It started as a road course on the island’s gravel lanes, became a purpose-built circuit in the 1950s, nearly disappeared under farmland in the 1980s and then came back as the home of the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix. Here’s how it got from there to today.
- 1928 Racing starts on closed public roads around the island. The 100 Miles Road Race that March is now recognized as the first Australian Grand Prix.
- 1952 The Phillip Island Auto Racing Club forms and buys the land where today’s circuit sits.
- 1956 After four years of work, the purpose-built circuit holds its first meeting in December.
- 1960 The Armstrong 500 production-car race is held here for the first time. When the track surface broke up in 1962, the race moved to Bathurst and grew into today’s Bathurst 1000.
- 1963 Racer and businessman Len Lukey buys the circuit and brings it back to life; the crest of Lukey Heights carries his name.
- 1978 After years of decline the circuit closes, and for most of the next decade the land is farmed.
- 1988 Bob Barnard’s company restores the track, which reopens on December 4 with the world championships in mind.
- 1989 The first Australian motorcycle Grand Prix runs in April, and Wayne Gardner wins in front of more than 90,000 people.
- 1990 World Superbike makes its first visit, starting a run that has continued almost every year since.
- 1991–1996 New South Wales outbids Victoria and the motorcycle Grand Prix moves to Eastern Creek in Sydney.
- 1997 The Grand Prix returns to Phillip Island, and a year later Mick Doohan clinches his fifth 500cc title here.
- 2004 Linfox buys the circuit; a redevelopment two years later adds a 750 m replica go-kart track at the visitor center.
- 2007–2012 Casey Stoner wins six premier-class races in a row at home, four on a Ducati and two on a Honda. Turn 3 is renamed Stoner Corner in 2012.
- 2013 On a fresh surface the rear tires can’t safely last full distance, so the MotoGP race is cut to 19 laps with a compulsory bike swap. Jorge Lorenzo wins and Marc Márquez is disqualified for pitting too late.
- 2015 Márquez beats Lorenzo by 0.249 seconds after a four-way fight with Andrea Iannone and Valentino Rossi, a race in which Iannone also hit a seagull.
- 2019 Supercars races here in April for what turns out to be its last visit for several years.
- 2022 The Turn 4 hairpin is renamed Miller Corner in honor of Jack Miller.
- 2026 In February MotoGP confirms it will move to an Adelaide street circuit from 2027, and Nicolò Bulega wins all three WorldSBK races. In June WorldSBK announces The Bend for 2028, and in October Victoria confirms Supercars will return from 2027. The last MotoGP weekend, October 23–25, ends in rain: Marc Márquez wins the Saturday sprint, Sunday’s races are canceled because the medical helicopter can’t fly, and a farewell parade lap takes their place.
Gardner Straight and Doohan Corner
If you’ve seen one shot of Phillip Island, it’s probably this: a bike at full lean through Turn 1 with nothing behind it but Bass Strait. The lap builds to it. You come off the last corner, tuck in down Gardner Straight past the pits and the tower, with the ocean filling the view ahead. Doohan Corner arrives at the end of all that speed, and it’s a fast, open corner rather than a hairpin, so riders brake hard while still settling the bike and turn in at speeds that would be the top end at plenty of other tracks.
835 m / 2,740 ft
Gardner Straight
The longest straight on the lap, running past the pits and the control tower toward the ocean.
335.4 km/h / 208 mph
WorldSBK top speed
Xavi Vierge’s record on a Honda in 2024, the fastest speed WorldSBK has recorded here.
286 km/h / 178 mph
Supercars top speed
Roughly what a Supercar reaches at the end of the straight; its average lap speed is about 174 km/h (108 mph).
The coast makes this part of the lap unpredictable, too. The wind coming off the water can push a bike off line on the straight, the weather can turn in minutes (the 2026 MotoGP finale was rained out on Sunday), and the wildlife doesn’t always stay off the track: Andrea Iannone famously hit a seagull here during the 2015 Grand Prix and still finished on the podium.
Phillip Island Track Guide: A Lap, Corner by Corner
Phillip Island runs counter-clockwise, with 12 turns (seven lefts and five rights) packed into 4.448 km (2.764 mi). It’s a fast, flowing track: there are only a couple of real hairpins, and most of the lap is about carrying speed and holding a line while the wind tries to move you off it. Here’s how a lap goes, with the corner names you’ll hear on TV.
T1
Doohan Corner
The end of Gardner Straight and the fastest corner entry on the lap. Brake hard and early enough to keep the front planted, then let the bike or car run wide toward Southern Loop.
T2
Southern Loop
A long, open loop where you hold a steady speed and a big lean angle for what feels like forever. It’s hard on tires, which is why rubber wear is the big talking point at most Phillip Island race weekends.
T3
Stoner Corner
A fast, committing corner heading back along the coast. Casey Stoner made it look easy on his way to six straight home wins, which is why it carries his name.
T4
Miller Corner
The slowest corner on the lap and a prime spot to pass on the brakes. It was called Honda for years before it was renamed for Jack Miller in 2022.
T5
Turn 5
A short, quick link out of the hairpin. A clean exit here sets up the run to Siberia.
T6
Siberia
A heavy-braking corner and another favorite place to overtake. Out-brake someone here and you can make it stick through the next section.
T7–8
Hayshed
Fast, flowing corners as the track starts back up the hill. Commitment and a smooth line matter more than braking here.
T9
Lukey Heights
A blind crest where you have to turn before you can see where the track goes. Riders pick a reference point on the skyline, and the bikes go light as they come over the top.
T10
MG
A tight, downhill corner after the crest and the last big braking zone of the lap. Late lunges here have decided plenty of races.
T11–12
Final corners
Two fast corners that sweep you back onto Gardner Straight. Exit speed out of Turn 12 decides your speed all the way to Doohan Corner, so this is where a lap is won or lost.
Phillip Island Lap Records
Only laps set in a race count as official records, which is why the outright record belongs to a GT car rather than a MotoGP bike. Here are the numbers people usually ask about. For reference, the Supercars race lap record is 1:30.9508, set by Scott McLaughlin in a Ford Mustang in April 2019.
1:24.0607
Outright race lap record
Tim Slade set it in a Brabham BT62 GT car during a race in May 2022, the fastest lap ever recorded in competition here.
1:26.465
Fastest motorcycle lap
Fabio Quartararo took pole on a Yamaha in 2025 with this lap, the quickest a MotoGP bike has gone around the Island.
1:27.765
MotoGP race lap record
Marc Márquez set it on the Gresini Ducati Desmosedici GP23 in the 2024 Australian Grand Prix, which he won.
1:28.564
WorldSBK race lap record
Nicolò Bulega set the Superbike race record on a Ducati Panigale V4 R in February 2024.
Races and Events at Phillip Island
Phillip Island has been a motorcycle track first for most of its modern life, and the calendar is changing fast. MotoGP has moved to the Adelaide street circuit, WorldSBK has one more round to go, and the Supercars Championship returns in 2027. Club racing, ride days and track days fill most other weekends. Here’s what runs here now and what’s coming.
February
World Superbike Championship
WorldSBK WorldSSP
WorldSBK has opened its season here most years since 1990. In 2026 Nicolò Bulega won all three races on his Ducati. The February 19–21, 2027 round will be the last, as the series moves to The Bend in South Australia from 2028.
1989–2026
Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
MotoGP History
The Island hosted the Grand Prix in 1989 and 1990 and most years from 1997 to 2026, with Stoner’s six straight wins the big local story. The final weekend in October 2026 ended in rain: Marc Márquez won the sprint, Sunday’s races were canceled, and the race moves to Adelaide in 2027.
From 2027
Supercars returns
Supercars Championship Touring cars
Supercars hasn’t raced here since April 2019, but the Victorian government has confirmed a five-year deal from 2027 to 2031, with Phillip Island part of the new finals series. The 2027 date hasn’t been announced yet.
Summer
Australian Superbike Championship
ASBK National racing
Australia’s national superbike series has long supported the big international weekends here, including the 2026 MotoGP round. Its 2026–27 summer season includes another Phillip Island round in late February 2027.
March
Historic racing and the Festival of Motoring
Historic racing Car culture
Historic cars and bikes are a big part of the Island’s calendar. In 2027 the new Phillip Island Festival of Motoring runs March 12–14 alongside the historic Motorsport Classic meeting.
Phillip Island Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
Here are the big public weekends at Phillip Island, so you can plan a trip around the racing you want to see. Club meetings, ride days and track days fill most other weekends. Dates marked TBA haven’t been announced yet, and it’s always worth checking the official circuit calendar before you book.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20–22 | Australian Round, WorldSBK season opener | WorldSBK, WorldSSP | Done |
| Mar 27–29 | Shannons SpeedSeries | GT and national car racing | Done |
| Oct 23–25 | Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (final Phillip Island MotoGP) | MotoGP, ASBK | Done |
| Nov 20–22 | PIARC Island Magic | Club racing | Upcoming |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15–16 | WorldSBK official test | WorldSBK | Upcoming |
| Feb 19–21 | Australian Round, final Phillip Island visit | WorldSBK, WorldSSP | Upcoming |
| Late Feb (TBA) | Australian Superbike Championship round | ASBK | Date TBA |
| Mar 12–14 | Phillip Island Festival of Motoring and Motorsport Classic | Historic racing, car culture | Upcoming |
| TBA | Supercars finals-series round | Supercars Championship | Date TBA |
Phillip Island Weather by Season
Phillip Island has a mild, maritime climate: it rarely gets very hot or very cold, but the wind off Bass Strait and fast-changing weather are part of every visit. The numbers below are long-term Bureau of Meteorology averages for the island’s Penguin Reserve weather station (1981–2018), and remember the seasons are flipped compared with North America and Europe.
22–24°C
Summer · Dec–Feb
Daily highs of 22–24°C (72–75°F) and lows of 12–14°C (54–57°F). It’s the driest time of year, with about 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain across the three months. WorldSBK weekend in late February usually lands here, but the sea breeze can still make it feel cool.
17–22°C
Autumn · Mar–May
Daily highs of 17–22°C (63–72°F) and lows of 9–13°C (48–55°F), cooling quickly as the months go on. Rain picks up to about 183 mm (7.2 in) for the season. March, with historic racing and the new Festival of Motoring, is the pick of these months.
13–15°C
Winter · Jun–Aug
Daily highs of 13–15°C (55–59°F) and lows of 7–8°C (45–46°F), with the most rain of the year, about 235 mm (9.3 in). Track and ride days still run on dry days, but dress for cold, wind and showers.
16–20°C
Spring · Sep–Nov
Daily highs of 16–20°C (61–68°F) and lows of 8–11°C (46–52°F), with about 196 mm (7.7 in) of rain. This used to be MotoGP season, and the 2026 finale showed how wet and wild an October weekend can get.
Visiting Phillip Island: Where to Watch, Getting There and Tips
Phillip Island is mostly grassy banks and open hillsides, with the ocean in view from a lot of them. That makes it a great place to walk around and pick your spot, but the weather off Bass Strait is the thing to plan for.
Where to watch
- Visitor center viewing mound. The circuit says you can see up to 80% of the track from here, including the fast end of Gardner Straight, Southern Loop, Stoner Corner and Siberia.
- Lukey Heights. A fan favorite on race weekends: you watch the bikes crest the hill and go light, then dive down to MG.
- MG. The last big braking zone, so it’s where late passes happen.
- Siberia. Another heavy-braking corner, with fewer crowds than the main straight.
- Southern Loop. Watch riders hold huge lean angles with the ocean right behind them.
Tickets and visiting outside race days
For WorldSBK and the other big events, general admission, grandstand and camping packages are sold through the event websites and Ticketek. Camping at the circuit is popular, and powered sites have sold out for recent WorldSBK rounds, so book early.
You don’t need a race to visit. The visitor center is open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm daily and includes the History of Motorsport display (with a big collection of Aprilia and Cagiva Grand Prix bikes), a café and a 750 m replica go-kart track. Circuit viewing on non-event days is listed at A$17.50 for adults, A$12.50 concession, A$8.50 for kids aged 5 to 15 and A$42 for a family, depending on whether the track is booked.
Getting there and what to bring
Phillip Island sits about 125 km (78 mi) south-east of Melbourne, and there’s only one road on and off: the bridge from San Remo to Newhaven. Most people drive via the Monash Freeway, South Gippsland Highway and Bass Highway, which means race-day traffic bunches up at the bridge, so leave early. Without a car, V/Line runs coaches to Cowes, and Western Port Ferries crosses from Stony Point; on major weekends there are also event coaches and even helicopter transfers.
Pack for four seasons in a day. It’s cool and windy for much of the year, rain can roll in off the water with little warning, and the same breeze that keeps you cool also hides how strong the sun is. A warm jacket, a rain shell and sunscreen are all worth bringing, even in summer.
Can You Drive or Ride Phillip Island?
Yes, and on two wheels it’s one of the most popular things to do here. Phillip Island Ride Days runs regular motorcycle days, including a free program for first-timers, and the California Superbike School teaches riders here too. On four wheels, the circuit lists Drive Events, On Track Events, Evolve Driving and the Audi Driving Experience among its track-day and driver-training partners.
Expect the same things the pros talk about: the wind on the straight, the long, tire-hungry Southern Loop and the blind crest at Lukey Heights. Ask your organizer about the format and any noise or tire rules before you book.
If you want to learn the lap on a screen first, Phillip Island is included in iRacing’s base content, and it’s in MotoGP 26 and the SBK 22 superbike game. The 750 m go-kart track at the visitor center is a cheap and fun way to feel the shape of the real thing, since it copies the main circuit’s layout.
Talk Phillip Island With Other Enthusiasts
Heading to the last WorldSBK round, booking your first ride day or wondering what Supercars’ return will look like? Share what you know, ask questions and find people going the same weekend in the AutoGathering community.
- Ride-day experiences
- Best viewing spots
- WorldSBK 2027 trip plans
- Camping tips
- Supercars’ return in 2027
- Track-day setups
- Sim racing lap times
- Phillip Island memories
Phillip Island FAQ
Is MotoGP still held at Phillip Island?
No. The last MotoGP weekend at Phillip Island was October 23–25, 2026. The Australian Grand Prix moves to a street circuit in Adelaide from 2027.
What happened at the last MotoGP race at Phillip Island?
Marc Márquez won the Saturday sprint in October 2026, but heavy rain and poor visibility grounded the medical helicopter on Sunday, so all three races were canceled and replaced by a farewell parade lap.
Is World Superbike still racing at Phillip Island?
Once more. WorldSBK opens its 2027 season at Phillip Island on February 19–21, 2027, which will be its final round there before the series moves to The Bend in South Australia in 2028.
Are Supercars coming back to Phillip Island?
Yes. The Victorian government has announced a five-year deal for Supercars to race at Phillip Island from 2027 to 2031. The 2027 date hasn’t been announced yet.
How long is the Phillip Island circuit?
The Grand Prix circuit is 4.448 km (2.764 miles) long, with 12 turns, run counter-clockwise. Some series quote 4.445 km for the same layout.
What is the lap record at Phillip Island?
The outright race lap record is 1:24.0607, set by Tim Slade in a Brabham BT62 in 2022. The MotoGP race lap record is 1:27.765 by Marc Márquez in 2024, and the fastest motorcycle lap is Fabio Quartararo’s 1:26.465 pole in 2025.
Who owns Phillip Island circuit?
Linfox Property Group, part of Lindsay Fox’s business, has owned the circuit since 2004. The owner has said it will keep operating after MotoGP’s departure.
Can you visit Phillip Island circuit when there’s no race?
Yes. The visitor center is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a viewing mound, the History of Motorsport display and a 750 m replica go-kart track. You can also book ride days and track days through the circuit’s partners.
Explore More Racing Circuits
Phillip Island is one of 24 venues in our Oceania racing circuit directory. Want to follow MotoGP to its new home? The Adelaide street circuit hosts the Australian Grand Prix from 2027, and back in Melbourne, Albert Park hosts the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
Photo credits
- Header image: Tom Reynolds from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Looking down Gardner Straight, the main straight…: Tom Reynolds from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Track map of the 4.448 km Phillip…: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.svg: Will Pittenger, Uppsalo…, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- MotoGP riders through MG corner in front…: thomasrdotorg, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- View across the Phillip Island circuit toward…: Tom Reynolds from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- A Holden Commodore Supercar in Burson Auto…: Nathan 212, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Bikes and crowds on the main straight…: thomasrdotorg, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Two historic touring cars, a red Chevrolet…: Lamontaveion, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.