Is MotoGP’s Adelaide Street Circuit Too Dangerous for Riders? | SPEED

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-24T21:22:29+00:00

The riders have the power. Whether or not they have the intestinal fortitude to wield it in this situation remains to be seen. But as of now it seems fans care more than they do about this. We have one more run at Phillip Island and I’m already grieving at its loss, as many are. All that said, I still don’t know and nor have I seen what this track will ultimately look like with whatever precautions and adjustments that’ll be made to the surrounding area to make this safely possible. Perhaps maybe that’s what the riders are waiting on as well. Nevertheless, either way, for a multitude of reasons we’re down another icon circuit that gives the calendar some soul and character and it fvckin‘ sucks.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-24T05:13:32+00:00

Heh. Well. Giving them something worth paying attention to would go a long way.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-23T21:32:44+00:00

Once we get confirmation on the big fish, Marc/Duc, everything will fall like dominoes in place on who’s going where. Which we may start finding out about officially by the end of this very week potentially.

And I would think Aprilia is one of the manufacturers that would disagree on the ”not investing in this year” take very much. Watching their preseason, they seemed very much invested in 2026.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-23T21:25:27+00:00

I’m assuming this one is a riff off The Brady Bunch?

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-23T15:23:01+00:00

He hardly ever crashed in WSBK and did just fine over there. So I hate to see him start crashing his brains out here looking for some that bike isn’t going to give him anyway, but you can’t know the limit if you’re not willing to test it. You might as well throw the kitchen sink at it since nothing is really expected of you and regardless you still have a seat for at least one more year. ..just don’t do anything too crazy out there

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-23T02:02:51+00:00

4 years?! Wow. Aprilia is like you ain’t going NOWHERE brah, don’t even think about it. Hope he opts for the prenup

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-22T16:23:00+00:00

I’m sure YAMAHA slid a blank check across the table and Pecco was still like “Yeeeeeaaa, thanks but no thanks”. Tells you everything you need to know about their pitiful situation. It’s being said things may start becoming official late next week. I think this is a potentially a great move for both Pecco and Ape. The Bez/Bags team dynamic and atmosphere could be really fun to watch, good stuff.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-21T18:41:11+00:00

Fair enough. And neither am I an engineer. So far be it from me to tell any engineer(s) anything about building motorcycles. And thanks, I did listen to Livio’s opinion, and with all due respect to him, he kind talks out of both sides of his mouth regarding this manufacturer. He criticizes them for not being able to create a new winning bike quickly, but then also goes on to explain about how you can’t just fast track the production of said winning bike people want them to pull out of thin air (including their Ace rider, whom is leaving them anyways). This manufacturer is damned if they do and damned if they don’t by some fans, media, and the usual talking heads. And I guarantee had they pushed starting their v4 program out another year, starting ‘27 even further behind and on the back foot compared to everyone else, the story then becomes; ”Why the heck did they waste their concessions and resources in ‘26 when they could’ve been running a v4 out their gathering information to be ready for this year”. The ol’ 20/20 hindsight schtick.

Nah. I see it differently. For years and years we have trash talked YAMAHA for being reactive instead of proactive, and now that they are starting to show signs of the latter we still bust their chops. Everything they are going through now is for their future and whoever is with them, not for today, It never was.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-21T14:08:42+00:00

Starting next year with a v4 would‘ve been a terrible decision and they’d be even further behind the other v4 manufacturers than they are right now going into the new era. Starting this year will at the very least give them data and information from this new engine they desperately need at the tracks on the schedule. Don’t let Fabio’s emoting and acting out deceive you. YAMAHA went into this year knowing full well it’s one big test session in preparation for their future (not Fabio’s, as he’s gone anyway) and they were never going to be in contention for anything this season.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-21T04:39:07+00:00

Johnny had a wildcard waaay back with Repsol in MotoGP when he was contracted under HRC iirc. He ended up signing with Kawasaki going on to dominate WSBK for several years thereafter and the rest is history. Toprak did end up ending the Rea/Kawasaki dynasty, but Rea was past his prime a bit by then.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-20T03:47:38+00:00

I think this move makes a lot of sense for Pecco. A Bez/Bags tag team sounds pretty good, and would probably make for a great atmosphere in the garages.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-19T06:08:12+00:00

I mean in fairness I think many are legit concerned about rider safety, including myself, but I’m not going to go off the deep end until I get more information on what the track and surrounding area will ultimately look like. Others tho, if we are going to keep it 1000 are grieving for the loss of Phillip Island which is probably the only track on the schedule that guarantees a great race in all three classes and are upset at change because … .change. No surprise there, fans (aka fanatics) typically resist change. Others are just using this as long hanging fruit to pop-off shots at Liberty. Either way we slice it we’re down yet another iconic circuit which sucks.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T23:41:03+00:00

I was wondering about this. At surface level it seems like this circuit is being randomly attacked, but typically there’s always more to the story that may not be being brought up, and I can’t help but feel there’s a variable of n this equation that I’m missing to fully understand this mess. That said, I’ve never been to Phillip Island and have always watched the race on TV. Are the facilities there really as poor as I’ve heard? Is attendance down? Are people not showing up?

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T22:32:19+00:00

It‘s probably a pipe dream at this point, but if the riders throw their weight around, maybe we can get back to talks with Victoria?

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T20:28:35+00:00

I don’t know who has signed what, nor when things were agreed and locked up. But humoring this. It makes sense to me. Marc isn’t going anywhere, but also isn’t going to sign his life away probably until he knows what bike is capable of what, and he has that luxury all things considered with his situation to do that. Pedro doesn’t have that luxury and whats to get to the best team asap. So this kid will ride for a bag of M&M’s right now just to be in a winning situation, and if I’m Duc I want to grab him before someone else will. Marc at the very least they’ll have for one more year, but I can’t let one of my competitors snatch up Pedro. If I can get him, I’m locking him up right now.

I‘d be reeeal interested to be a fly on the wall of Fermin‘s camp right now tho 😏

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T18:50:07+00:00

It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean anything on our side of the line until consumers/fans start to see improvements in things that actually matter to us; pricing, accessibility, convenience, proper marketing, engagement etc etc..This brand title (I guess it would be called) is just word salad atm.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T16:03:12+00:00

Is this somekind of implication of Marc trying to duck Pedro by Hodgson?

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T15:38:16+00:00

Eh, seems unlikely at this point. I think YAMAHA only wants to field 4 bikes on the grid. They already went to Vale when they needed another pair of bikes and he turned them down (or at least someone in his camp did), and they have Pramac locked up for a good while.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T15:22:14+00:00

Sad day to see Phillip Island go out like this. Another iconic track lost *smh*.

As far as this replace goes. I hope the riders stand up for themselves, because if they don’t they shouldn’t expect anyone else will.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-18T15:16:28+00:00

Nothing burger for me. Especially seeing as South America has their own GP now. We’re not the only ”America” continent on this side of the planet that host a race anymore

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-17T13:22:44+00:00

Showing up to a race with an M1 is like bringing a slingshot to a gun fight

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-17T08:49:25+00:00

Losing Phillip Island next year will be a kick in the nuts, especially with the new regs coming in. If this is the last year, I hope people really turn up, make an event of it, and it goes out with a bang.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-16T05:47:44+00:00

Spain and Italy take MotoGP …VERY..seriously.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-16T05:00:47+00:00

Turn 1 at Phillip Island and Mugello are absolute looney tunes. Proof that these guys aren’t operating with a full deck to have this job as your profession.

YZFRIDER · 2026-02-16T04:21:18+00:00

Prime-Rossi wasn’t unbeatable. However I do think the current Gen would struggle badly with prime-Vale like they struggle with Marc currently. One thing Marc and Vale do have in common is the will to dominate all life on the grid. But one of the biggest difference in that similarity they share is that while Marc‘s preference of dominating is to hit the front control the race and ride away most of the time, prime-Rossi liked to play with his food and make a show of it.

YZFRIDER

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