Let's talk MotoGP: I investigated the Phillip Island retirement, and here's what I discovered.

Shortly before the start of the season, a piece of news hit Grand Prix fans like a ton of bricks. Phillip Island, the home of MotoGP in Australia, will disappear from the calendar in favor of an urban circuit in AdelaideKnowing that this circuit is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world, and that fans and drivers alike adore it, I naturally wondered why Liberty Media wanted to part ways with it. It took some time, but I think I've cracked the mystery behind this most surprising decision.

 

The political dimension that no one talks about

 

In this matter, two events must be distinguished. First, the abandonment of Phillip Island, and second, the appointment of a new circuit to replace it, namely Adelaide. And while all the media outlets have mentioned both, No one has yet tried to establish a link between the two.In a change of this magnitude, denying the political dimension is a serious mistake.

 

 

 

You may have noticed this in the various articles on the subject, but the host state also changes. As a reminder, Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, made up of six states and ten territories. Within this continent, the states enjoy considerable autonomy, with little control over the federal government on matters relating to the economy, among other things. Phillip Island is located in the state of Victoria, whose capital is Melbourne. Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, the fourth largest state in the country by area. And, as you might have guessed, the two territories don't get along very well.

This opposition dates back to the very creation of the Australian states. South Australia is the only one not founded on the reception of convicts, but rather on the development of a theory based on an agreement between farmers, financiers, and artisans. Thus, it stands out from the others, and as is often the case in countries governed by a federal system, These differences persist over time, becoming traditions, ways of thinking, and ways of acting.And, inevitably, tensions with neighboring states soon erupted.

During the 19th century, South Australia clashed frequently with Victoria (located to the southeast), primarily over geographical and economic issues, the details of which I won't go into. The key point is that there's a latent rivalry between the two states, also fueled by a touch of jealousy—this is a personal observation after speaking with French expatriates—towards wealthier or more developed nations. Today, All modern economic indicators demonstrate Victoria's vast superiority over South Australia..

Let's turn to sports. As is the norm in every city, neighborhood, and country, economic repercussions transform into sporting rivalries, because the fields, modern-day battlegrounds, are the only places where it's possible to see one's "identity" prevail over another. This is particularly true in Australian rules football. The reception of "global events" like the MotoGP or F1 are no exception to the rule. In 1985, Adelaide hosted Formula 1 for the first time as part of the Australian Grand Prix.A complete victory for a city little known abroad, and a feeling perfectly captured on the poster created for the occasion: it reads " Adelaide alive "Or" Adelaide alive ", in French, as if to show that the city exists, that its heart beats stronger than ever.

 

 

The treason

 

While Formula 1 was gaining momentum thanks to the Senna/Prost rivalries, Victoria also wanted its share of the action. Two editions of the MotoGP had already been held at Phillip Island from 1989 to 1990, but the Australian round had been moved to Eastern Creek in 1991, in New South Wales, another state. Victoria could not remain silent.Consequently, former Melbourne mayor and businessman Ron Walker decided in 1993 to make his city the venue for the new Grand Prix. He could count on Prime Minister Jeff Kennett's support in this endeavor. Without public consultation or a parliamentary vote, Melbourne was awarded the 1996 Formula 1 Grand Prix on the Albert Park circuit, which is still in use today. This contract, which was completely secret, was hidden from the political representatives of South Australia.

That was the last straw. Once again, Victoria had everything, South Australia had nothing The motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island after the abandonment of Eastern Creek in 1997, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the pinnacle of motorsport, from 1996 onwards. Today, it's obvious: All those surveyed confirmed to me that the pill never passed in Adelaide.

 

Goodbye Phillip Island, thanks for nothing

 

Let's return to the present. We know that Australia is a huge market for DORNA and Liberty Media, as evidenced even today by the strategic position Jack Miller occupies on the schedule. In the context of the desired expansion, Phillip Island, which remains difficult to access and has aging infrastructure, no longer exploits the potential of such an eventOne only has to look at the small number of spectators present each year compared to other rounds to be convinced of this fact.

As soon as rumors of Phillip Island's cancellation surfaced, South Australia, eager to avenge the loss of the F1 Grand Prix, seized the opportunity. And while they were at it, why not propose a street circuit in Adelaide, a former Formula 1 Grand Prix venue? as if to prolong the act of defiance to the very endIn fact, you may have heard of another bid: The Bend Motorsport Park, a circuit located… 100 kilometers from Adelaide. This means that the current government absolutely wanted to leave nothing to the opposition, and that he had anticipated this with not one, but two solid proposals.

Everything becomes clearer. That's why Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan tried to pull all the political levers to keep Phillip Island on the agenda – a circuit whose main straight features advertisements for the city of Melbourne. But the opposing bid was too well-prepared; it arrived just when the new MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group wanted a Grand Prix in the city. For Allan, a member of the Labour Party and a socialist, it was a real political defeat.

On the other side, the victory is total. Peter MalinauskasThe Premier of South Australia, also a member of the ALP Labor Party but from the so-called "right-wing" (centrist) faction, has hit the jackpot less than two months before the election. Now that you have all the details, reread his press release at the time of the announcement: « This is a masterstroke for South Australia and further proof that our state is booming.We are now competing with the rest of the country to host the world's best events, and we are winning »The rest of the country being, of course, Victoria and its F1. Do you better understand the significant political dimension of this decision? Moreover, the entire press release makes no mention of sport, but of economic victory. « This is not just a world-class sporting event, but also a way to generate economic activity for our state."To support employment and put South Australia on the world stage." Adelaide AliveThe dream of 1995 is finally restored, and South Australia is avenged.

Were you aware of these issues regarding the abandonment of Phillip Island? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.