Casey Stoner says he will work to bring Phillip Island back to the MotoGP calendar after the circuit’s scheduled departure at the end of the 2026 season. From 2027, the Australian Grand Prix is scheduled to move to a street circuit in Adelaide, with the first event set for 12-14 November 2027.

Stoner’s reaction is about more than nostalgia. The former world champion won his home race at Phillip Island six consecutive times from 2007 to 2012, and believes the circuit offers an experience that is difficult to recreate elsewhere. In a YouTube interview with former Australian MotoGP rider Chris Vermeulen, he pointed to the venue’s position beside the ocean, the atmosphere around the island and the commitment required from fans who make the journey.

Stoner said that spectators travelling from Queensland can spend more than 20 hours riding to reach Phillip Island. In his view, that mass journey says something about the bond between the audience and the circuit, which he described as one of the greatest motorcycle tracks in the world.

The objection is also about safety

Stoner does not regard Phillip Island’s current facilities as beyond criticism. He accepts that the pits and surrounding areas need a refresh, and that the event itself could be given a different format. That does not change his opposition to replacing the circuit with a street venue.

MotoGP has said the new Adelaide circuit, which will be laid out in parkland, will not compromise on run-off. Stoner remains concerned about the risks of such a setting. Riders do not have a cockpit around them, and a locked brake or an unexpected oil or water spill can turn a crash into a very serious incident quickly. In his view, safety requirements must come before the appeal of a new spectacle.

Stoner also believes that modern aerodynamics and electronics have taken away part of the direct experience Phillip Island once gave riders. The circuit remains distinctive, however. He places it alongside Mugello and Brno, contrasting those venues with more artificial layouts created simply by drawing a track across an available piece of land.

The 2011 and 2012 victories

Of his six consecutive wins, Stoner considers 2011 the hardest to surpass. He won the championship that day with his fifth straight victory at Phillip Island, on his birthday. The weather kept changing, moving through sunshine, wind, cooler conditions and rain, while Jorge Lorenzo missed the race after a crash and injury.

The 2012 victory carried a different significance. Stoner returned after seriously damaging his ankle at Indianapolis and used the preceding races to rebuild his form. The ankle was still not working properly, but he found his speed at Phillip Island and secured a farewell win. He remembers the crowd most clearly, recalling that it took three hours for the island to empty the following day. That reaction helps explain why he wants the circuit back on the MotoGP calendar.