MotoGP has moved to reassure riders and fans over the safety of its new Adelaide circuit, with deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta insisting the venue will be one of the safest on the calendar when it hosts the Australian Grand Prix from 2027.
Adelaide will replace the much-loved Phillip Island circuit after the 2026 Australian GP, marking a major change for the championship. The new track will be built within the city and includes sections of roads that will return to normal traffic outside the race period.
The decision to move away from Phillip Island initially raised concerns because Adelaide has traditionally been associated with street racing. Some questioned whether the proximity of walls and limited space would make the venue suitable for modern MotoGP machinery.
However, MotoGP has now revealed more details of the new layout, which is designed to function more like a conventional circuit than a traditional street course such as Monaco.
The project has received an investment of around €60 million, with the circuit measuring approximately 4.17km. Around 2km of the layout will use roads that normally serve public traffic, while dedicated sections will be closed during the event.
Ezpeleta said the safety of the track has been a priority throughout its development and that the run-off areas have been calculated specifically for MotoGP's requirements.
“Adelaide will be one of the safest circuits on the calendar,” Ezpeleta said.
MotoGP has worked with the FIM and the University of Padua on a system that calculates the required run-off distance based on the expected speed of the bikes.
The organisers have also been able to add asphalt run-off areas at Turns 2 and 3, which are among the fastest sections of the circuit. The idea is to give riders additional space to slow down before reaching the gravel.
Ezpeleta also stressed that the images and video released recently were not simply artistic concepts. They were based on detailed computational modelling designed to show how the final circuit is expected to look.
The new layout has already received a positive response from MotoGP riders. According to Ezpeleta, the riders were shown the latest plans and video during a safety commission meeting, with their reactions described as overwhelmingly positive.
Many had initially been unsure what to expect from an Adelaide street circuit. The latest design, however, appears to have changed that perception.
The circuit is expected to be completed only a few weeks before the 2027 Australian GP, meaning there will not be a dedicated MotoGP test at the venue beforehand. Ezpeleta said there will instead be visits and isolated tests during the construction process.
The Australian GP is expected to remain in a similar part of the calendar to Phillip Island, likely around October or November, although the exact 2027 date has yet to be confirmed.
The move also brings an end to MotoGP's long association with Phillip Island. While Ezpeleta acknowledged the circuit's iconic status and history of spectacular races, he argued that its location presents several challenges that cannot easily be solved.
Weather has been one of the biggest issues. Phillip Island has regularly faced cold, wet and windy conditions during the Australian GP, creating difficult and sometimes unsafe racing conditions.
Ezpeleta pointed to previous weekends when riders questioned whether it was possible to race safely, saying those concerns are often forgotten when fans remember Phillip Island's most exciting races.
The circuit's remote location also creates challenges involving accommodation, transport and access from Melbourne.
Adelaide, meanwhile, offers MotoGP the chance to stage a major event in the centre of a major Australian city.
That potential is a key reason why MotoGP believes the move is worthwhile.
The project does come with environmental concerns, however. Construction will require some trees to be removed or relocated, including 42 classified as significant and a further 335 in various regulated or poor-condition categories.
Ezpeleta said environmental considerations have been incorporated into the circuit design. MotoGP and the local authorities plan to offset the impact by planting 10 trees for every tree removed, while ensuring the park remains available to the public for most of the year.
For MotoGP, Adelaide represents a significant experiment. It will be a temporary circuit inside a city, but one designed to meet the championship's strict modern safety requirements.
If the project delivers as planned, MotoGP believes Adelaide can offer the best of both worlds: the atmosphere and accessibility of a city event without sacrificing the safety standards expected from a modern Grand Prix venue.
