Phillip Island will host the Australian Grand Prix for the final time before the event moves to Adelaide in 2027. The change of venue gives this weekend added significance for Raul Fernandez: last year, he took his first MotoGP victory at the circuit and delivered Trackhouse its maiden premier-class win.

That race turned in Fernandez’s favour when Marco Bezzecchi served the first of his two long-lap penalties. Fernandez moved into the lead and then kept Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio behind him. The clearest memory for the Spaniard is not a single pass but the final corner, followed by the sight of his team and the realisation that Trackhouse had finally achieved its breakthrough.

The return is expected to carry an emotional charge for Fernandez. He has said that he will “cry a little”, not only because Phillip Island is tied to his first MotoGP win, but also because he particularly enjoys the circuit. He also regards it as important to racing history more broadly, with memorable competition in MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3.

Aprilia arrives with a strong recent story

Fernandez comes to Australia after securing the first MotoGP pole position of his career at Mandalika and finishing second in the Grand Prix. That result came despite a broken finger sustained in contact with Bezzecchi during the Sprint. At last year’s Phillip Island event, the two riders both reached the podium in the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

Fernandez’s explanation for the Aprilia RS-GP’s effectiveness at the Australian circuit is simple: stability through the fast corners. That characteristic suits Phillip Island’s rapid, flowing layout and gives Aprilia a clear performance angle as it returns for the venue’s final appearance on the calendar.

Ai Ogura arrives with a different reference point. He finished 13th at Phillip Island last year during his rookie MotoGP campaign, in the race that followed his injury. This time he brings circuit experience on a premier-class motorcycle and the confidence of completing Aprilia’s historic sweep of the top four positions at Mandalika. Ogura expects a much better weekend, with his previous track experience likely to help him make more of the opportunity.

Davide Brivio has underlined the importance of Phillip Island for Trackhouse because of Fernandez’s breakthrough victory. The team reaches Australia after a strong Indonesian weekend, with Fernandez and Ogura on the podium in the Sprint and the main race. Brivio also hopes that Fernandez’s injury will not affect him too much, leaving the Spaniard able to fight for another victory before the Australian Grand Prix changes home.