Call to keep motorcycle race off city streets
An independent candidate for Dunstan is calling to have the recently announced MotoGP blocked from Adelaide streets.
Dustan Independent candidate Ian McBryde is rallying to keep MotoGP off the streets of the Adelaide CBD, flagging major safety, environmental and social costs – the state government saying it would minimise disruptions.
The MotoGP was announced last Thursday by Premier Peter Malinauskas, with the race expected gardner signficant financial benefits and to be held on the city street circuit used for the BP Adelaide Grand Final supercars event.
MotoGP is set to hit the Adelaide streets across three days in November 2027 and it would become the first time in 30 years it would be held outside of Philip Island in Victoria.
McBryde said not everyone was pleased about the announcement, with Dunstan residents voicing “multiple concerns” over the MotoGP’s proposed track.
“Sacrificing taxpayer money, the precious parklands and our social fabric for short term monetary gain over 6 to 8 years makes no sense, especially when there is a suitable venue close by.
You might like
“It adds two weeks to local’s traffic congestion problems. It takes out a lot of trees, which is environmentally a disaster for habitat and there are obvious safety concerns — humans don’t do too well running into concrete,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a good thing for SA don’t get me wrong, I just think the city circuit and what it does for the people of Dunstan isn’t great.”
The proposed track would be approximately 4.195 kilometres long with 18 corners through the city streets, with riders expected to hit speed of more than 340 km/h.
It follows the similar Adelaide Street Circuit that hosted Formula One events in the CBD from 1985 to 1995.
Stay informed, daily
McBryde has instead called for the race to take place at The Bend in Tailem Bend less than two hours outside the CBD, arguing it would be an economic benefit to both metropolitan and regional economies.
He said he has received positive support from the local community to move the MotoGP, with “very few negative” responses.
“It would still be good for the state if it was held up at The Bend and it’s a track that would have the safety for the riders built into it easier than the city circuit,” McBryde said.
“It would cause less harm to Adelaide whilst still attracting the same number of visitors.”
A state government spokesperson said the Labor Government’s major events strategy “has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of economic benefit to South Australia across events such as AFL Gather Round, LIV Golf and the bp Adelaide Grand Final”.
“As with all events, every effort is made to minimise disruptions. In the case of MotoGP, the event will be held alongside the bp Adelaide Grand Final, meaning the track infrastructure can be used for both events and streets will be re-opened between events,” he said.
