This weekend’s 2025 Liqui Moly Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island will add another chapter to the world championship narrative, as riders fight for position at the scenic southern Victorian venue for round 19. As is usually the case, the Island will be the scene of immense two-wheeled action, with Q&A outlining some of the drawcards to track.

Image: Supplied.

Q: Is there a shake-up in the MotoGP World Championship this weekend?

A: There certainly is! Recently crowned MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez was ruled out of the Australian GP after a bruising race the previous time out in Indonesia, with upper-arm injuries keeping the Spanish icon sidelined for both Australia and Malaysia. It’s disappointing for those who wanted to catch the now seven-time premier class champion in action, who completed a remarkable comeback in 2025 to return to the top spot as part of the Ducati Lenovo Team. That said – with Marquez having won 11 of 18 races this year – the door is now wide-open for the rest of the field to capitalise and earn victory as rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer emphatically did last time at the Mandalika circuit. After claiming victory in Japan, two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia will be aiming for his third win of what has been a challenging season, while Spaniard Pedro Acosta remains hungry for his first victory of the year. Five other riders outside of Marc have won in 2025, with this weekend at the Island providing an opportunity for any one of them to capture another, or for a sixth winner to emerge during the latter stages of this year’s series.

Q: What are some of the unique factors of the Phillip Island venue?

A: Phillip Island is a notoriously fast and flowing venue, perched just above the Bass Strait in Southern Victoria. It’s a 4.45-kilometre layout that rewards commitment and precision through high-speed corners, where wind and temperature can shift in an instant and give even some of the world’s most established stars all they can handle at times. Additionally, wild weather swings – which are a staple of the Victorian state, generally speaking – can never be counted out, and can turn the grippy surface into an ice skating rink, while still demanding that riders deliver full commitment irrespective of the conditions. It provides one of the more unique settings and backdrops of the entire MotoGP calendar, delivering both action-packed racing and a picturesque location for both riders and fans to enjoy across the weekend.

Image: Supplied.

Q: How will Miller feature at home?

A: The Island provides a warm embrace for Prima Pramac Racing Yamaha’s Jack Miller, with the 30-year-old showman giving his fair share of effort and entertainment in return. It’s hard to say how Thriller’s season has unfolded – from the outside, it would seem better than last year at KTM – however he did wrap up the 2024 campaign in P14, and he is currently ranked 18th with four rounds remaining. He’s entering off the back of a series of challenging races, with his last top 10 arriving seven rounds ago at the Czechia GP. It is at these moments that a rider likely values their home GPs, to get that appreciation and support, which can translate to a shot in the arm of added performance as a result. Regardless, there’ll be an influx of Miller merch flying around Phillip Island this weekend, as the Townsville-native remains the Australian hero of the class.

Q: Which storylines stand out in Moto2?

A: The Moto2 World Championship field arrives in Australia with the battle between title contenders Manuel Gonzalez and Diogo Moreira tightening up, with the gap separating the pair currently at nine points after Gonzalez’s disqualification from Indonesia due to outdated software in his ECU, which is no longer approved under Moto2 technical regulations. Therefore, his P2 finish was scrapped, as Moreira enjoyed a pivotal race victory. In addition to the championship intensity, young Australian prospect Harrison Voight – who competes in the Moto2 European Championship – will line up as a fill-in for MSi Racing at Phillip Island, joining fellow Australian talent Senna Agius as they each take on home-soil duties. Voight’s last-minute addition offers a chance to showcase his speed after recent front-running European form, while Agius targets a return to the front of the Moto2 field after 5-DNF-12 results across the last three GPs.

Image: Supplied.

Q: Can Joel Kelso return to the Moto3 podium?

A: In Moto3, 22-year-old Queenslander Joel Kelso has had an impressive season to date with speed that has had him towards the front of the field for the entirety of the championship, and he currently holds P5 in the overall standings. A serious stretch of form throughout the early to middle stages of the series had him knocking on the door of the race win, scoring three podium finishes as he challenged the front-runners. While still plenty fast, the form has moved to consistent top 10 finishes over the last handful of rounds, with the Australian contender no doubt targeting a return to podium form in both Phillip Island and beyond. Also keep an eye out for Jacob Roulstone, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider who is motivated to firm up his future after missing a seat – so far – for 2026.