The press conference ahead of the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix welcomed to the Phillip Island circuit the third-placed rider in the championship, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), last year's winner, Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team), and the local rider, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing).
For the last time, since the famous Australian circuit will no longer be on the calendar from 2027, replaced by the one set up in Adelaide.
But this final edition is exciting, since, as you know, only two points separate Jorge Martin from Marc Marquez at the top of the championship!
This high-intensity duel does not obscure the fact that Marco Bezzecchi is only at 46 points, while there are potentially 185 more to score.
But the questions mainly focused on Phillip Island and nobody really talked about the championship with the Rimini scorpion…
As is our custom , we reproduce his words here in full without any formatting, even though they are translated from English.
🎤 Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to this pre-event press conference, as we approach what I'm sure will be a very exciting weekend. It's the end of an era, as the spectacular Phillip Island circuit hosts the Australian Grand Prix for the very last time. An iconic venue that has provided some of the most memorable moments in MotoGP history since the very first race held here in 1989.
Joining us for this press conference, and ready to experience the final roar of Phillip Island, we welcome Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing rider, winner of the Sprint here in 2025 and winner of our last Grand Prix in Indonesia. Marco arrives at this 18th round in third position in the World Championship.
We also welcome Raul Fernandez, SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia rider. Raul became one of only 15 riders to win a MotoGP race at Phillip Island when he took the victory here last year, securing his maiden win in the premier class. He also recently finished second at Mandalika, after taking his first MotoGP pole position.
And to complete our lineup today, we have a rider who will remain linked to Phillip Island for many years to come, as Turn 4 has borne his name since 2022. It's always a pleasure to welcome local hero Jack Miller, Prima Pramac Yamaha rider. Jack finished third in MotoGP here in 2019 and won in Moto3 in front of his home crowd 12 years ago.
Gentlemen, good afternoon and welcome to the three of you under this magnificent Phillip Island sun! I'm unfortunately not sure it will last very long this weekend…
🎤 Marco, we'll start this press conference with you. A magnificent victory in the last round at Mandalika, a very good result for your championship as you're now only 46 points behind Jorge Martín. But how important was it for you, Marco, simply in terms of confidence and belief, to get back to winning ways as we approach this final part of the season?
Marco Bezzecchi: “Yes, I am very happy to have managed to secure a victory. It had become an obsession for me since my crash at the Sachsenring, when I was injured.
So I was really very happy to be able to prove, also to myself, that I was once again capable of fighting for victory.
So I'm very, very happy, and now we can focus on this weekend, which is a very important weekend.
🎤 You won the Sprint here last year, Marco, and you clearly had the pace to win the Grand Prix were it not for those two Long Laps, unfortunately. In dry conditions, you seem like a strong contender for the win, but at Phillip Island, the weather is always a major topic of conversation when you arrive in this part of the world. And once again, it looks like it could play a significant role on Saturday and Sunday.
How much more complicated does a race in the wet make things when you're also competing for the World Championship?
"Well, it's always like this here. It's a place where the weather can normally change many times over the weekend, so in the end it will be the same for everyone. We just have to try to adapt as quickly as possible."
Obviously, a race in the wet is always very difficult, but in the dry it's never easy either.
So let's try to take it one day at a time. Tomorrow morning, we'll open the window, see what the weather's like, and then we'll finally start driving.
🎤 Just before we move on to Jack, another question for the two Aprilia riders, Marco and Raul. Gentlemen, I understand there was another meeting today between the four Aprilia riders and Aprilia management. Can you tell us what was discussed and if there might be any team orders coming into play this weekend in Australia? Marco, let's start with you.
“No, I mean, it was just a normal meeting. We always work together with the Trackhouse SuperFile team. Aprilia always works with them and their work has always been very important to us.”
So it's normal to sometimes have the opportunity to hold a meeting, simply to chat a little and exchange ideas on different situations.
For now, that's all there is to it.
🎤 And finally, gentlemen, we can't let you leave Phillip Island without asking you this question. Since this is the last roar on this legendary circuit, which all drivers love for the thrills it provides, what is each of your best personal memory here? And more generally, what is the memory that stands out the most from your races on this fantastic circuit? Marco, we'll start with you.
"Well, the circuit is incredible. I don't have a very long career in the World Championship yet, but since the first time I rode here, the emotions I've felt on this track have always been extraordinary."
So yes, it's something huge, and even more so with a MotoGP bike.
But it's also a rather special race weekend, because we all live together in houses with the team, the beach is right next door, we have some free time, and the nature is magnificent.
So it's been fantastic to come here, and to have had the chance to race on this incredible circuit, in an equally incredible place.
🎤 Do you have a particular memory? I'm thinking, for example, of Valentino's victory here in 2003 with his 10-second penalty?
“Yes, it was incredible. But as Jack said, generally, on very beautiful circuits, you always have very beautiful races. And here, the battles that MotoGP has offered the fans have always been incredible.”
I also remember a very close finish between Jack and Pecco; it was magnificent. But more generally, all the MotoGP battles here in the past have been superb.
And last year's race was fantastic too. It was also my first MotoGP podium here, so it was a very good memory.
🎤 Beyond the fact that the circuit is so special, I'm going to ask each of you, Raul, Marco, and Jack. Phillip Island is a unique place: what other special memories will you take away from this place, something that can't be found anywhere else? Not just the circuit, but the island itself.
"Of course, all the barbecues with the whole team, all the time spent together in a house.
Normally, we already spend a lot of time with our team, but here it's different: we all live together, so it's really great.
And then there's also the connection with the fans. The fans are really very kind and it's very pleasant to spend time with them.
🎤 Will you miss it?
"Yes, of course. But fortunately, we're keeping Australia; we're just changing cities."
🎤 I'm a bit curious about the wind on this track, because it can sometimes be really strong and push the bike. How do you deal with that? Do you know it's going to hit certain corners, so do you prepare yourself on the bike? Is it scary? What's it like for a rider at 360 km/h in those kinds of conditions?
"Well, first of all, you have to go out on the track and, during the first few laps, try to understand where the wind is coming from and how strong it is.
Then, of course, while riding, you have to adapt. You have to use your body and try to compensate for certain movements with other movements to prevent the motorcycle from moving too much.
It's a bit like a dance.
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