The Australian Grand Prix therefore follows its Japanese counterpart which took place only a week ago. Third of four successive overseas events, it is also the most popular because it takes place on a legendary Phillip Island track. Here is a little history and figures that set the scene…
MotoGP heads to the island of Phillip Island, located approximately 80 kilometers south of Melbourne. It has one of the most beautiful tracks on the calendar, and undoubtedly one of the most appreciated by drivers. Overlooking the ocean, it offers a course that is both spectacular and demanding. The development has practically not changed since 1956. The track is full of numerous extremely fast turns and a difference in altitude that few modern tracks offer. With an average speed of 177,6 km/h, achieved by Marc Márquez during his victory in 2015, Phillip Island is the second fastest still on the motorcycle world championship calendar after the Red Bull Ring (183,2 km/h for Andrea Dovizioso 2019).
The track is 4,448 kilometers long and features a long straight leading to the finish, seven left turns and five right turns. The first races were held in 1928, at that time, on a triangular course on public roads. In 1951, a local businessman decided to build a permanent runway. Due to the rugged terrain, construction took five years and cost much more money than expected, but, in 1956, the Phillip Island circuit was finally opened.
It would be another 33 years before the motorcycle world championship was established there. In 1989 the first Grand Prix took place and it went to the local hero Wayne Gardner in 500cc. The following year, he did it again. But then the Australian Grand Prix moved to Eastern Creek near Sydney for six years. In 1997, the Motorcycle World Championship returned to the island and has never left since.
For years, one man ruled the roost at Phillip Island. It is Casey Stoner. He won in his first season in 2006 with LCR Honda. In the six years that followed until his retirement in 2012, he won six straight.
However, Valentino Rossi had so many victories. Five consecutive victories from 2001 to 2005 then a sixth success in 2014. As already mentioned, Wayne Gardner won the first two races in 1989 and 1990. Marc Márquez also won it twice, in 2015 and 2017. Alex Criville (1997) Mick doohan (1998) et Tadayuki Okada (1999) are among the winners. Max Biaggi (2000) Marco Melandri (2006) Jorge Lorenzo (2013) Cal Crutchlow (2016) et Maverick Vinales are also on the list.
The lap record is 1'28.108 signed by Marc Márquez in 2013. The fastest qualification is 1'27 899 thanks to Jorge Lorenzo in 2013. The best top speed is 348,0 km/h with Andrea Dovizioso in 2015.
