Phillip Island Circuit Australia

The fast flowing nature of the 4.448 kilometre circuit is the reason that has made Phillip Island one of the favourite MotoGP tracks among riders for the last 15 years. The one big drawback can be weather on this outpost of South Australian coastline. Heavy rain and winds can cause chaos at this time of the year to the Island, which is linked by a bridge to the mainland, some 63 miles south of Melbourne.

There are five right and seven left hand corners and an 820 yards start and finish straight which leads into the very quick Doohan right hand bend. The circuit has a Visitors' Centre, which includes information displays on the history of motor sport on Phillip Island, a circuit viewing area, a café, water gardens and wildlife enclosures.

In 2005, Valentino Rossi scored his 11th victory of the season in Australia. This was Rossi's 5th consecutive victory at Phillip Island, which brought the constructors' title to Yamaha. American Nicky Hayden lead the opening laps of the race, before being relegated to second by Rossi, who led therace until the halfway stage, when Hayden retook first place. However, Rossi soon recovered his first position and eventually finished the race in 1st place, one second clear of Hayden.

Melbourne International Airport is 94 miles from the circuit on Phillip Island. Take the Tullamarine Freeway from the airport, connecting to the 'City Link' (an electronically monitored toll road - purchase a pass at airport or from car hirer) then drive through Melbourne city, onto the Monash Freeway, through Cranbourne and onto the Bass Highway to San Remo. Cross the bridge to Phillip Island, following the tourist signs onto Back Beach Road on which the circuit is located.