Wayne Gardner has blamed the Victorian government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation for the cost-cutting mistakes that cost him the Phillip Island MotoGP race.
MotoGP confirmed on Thursday Australian GP In 2027, it will move from iconic, much-loved Phillip Island to a new city-centre street circuit in Adelaide. Phillip Island has hosted the Australian GP since 1997, but its contract with MotoGP expires after the 2026 race.
The South Australian government has signed a six-year contract with MotoGP. Adelaide bosses won’t rule out holding Australian GP night race To better suit MotoGP fans in Europe.
Wayne Gardner blames Victorian government for Phillip Island’s Australian Grand Prix win
a lot MotoGP fans believe leaving Phillip Island was a “terrible” mistakeThe circuit is one of the best on the calendar. But in the year Gardner, the 1987 500cc world champion, believes AGP Corp and the Victorian government are to blame for losing the Australian GP.
Read more: Everything you need to know about the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix, including past winners
Gardner, from Wollongong, New South Wales, believes recent “antiques” by the Victorian government and AGP Corporation are to blame, trying to “cut costs” as much as possible. Now, their mistake has led to the “sad news” that Phillip Island has lost the Australian GP.
Gardner said. ABC RadioEverything changed when the new AGP board came in. I see them start cutting people and bringing in teenagers to run the shows.
They were trying to reduce costs as much as possible, then (they) came to me and said, “We will not offer you any more money, it is mandatory to come down and join the event.” “But I live in Europe. I have to bring my whole family there. It is very expensive.”
“The main straight is called (The) Gardner Straight, after I had two big wins there and finished the event. There are also reception rooms called ‘Gardner Reception Rooms,’ and I didn’t get a dime from the government or AGP Corp for that.”
“They’ve got my name everywhere, which is an honor, but you’d think they’d make me go out there and talk to people. But they’re misusing my story, and they don’t want to pay for it.”
Wayne Gardner won the first Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island in 1989
Phillip Island hosted the Australian Grand Prix in the 1989 500cc season, Gardner’s first of two premier class victories at home. In 1990, Eastern Creek won the Australian GP before hosting it for the first time in 1991.
The 500cc championship returned to Phillip Island and the track near Melbourne in 2015. In 1997 the Australian GP made it a permanent home. MotoGP calendar The series is now wrapping up with a farewell event in 2026 before moving to Adelaide.
