SAM Shahin disclosed that the breakthrough in bringing MotoGP to South Australia originated from a confidential face-to-face meeting with Dorna shortly after last year’s bp Adelaide Grand Final. This secret encounter set the stage for the MotoGP event’s move, beginning in 2027, from Phillip Island to a refurbished street circuit in Adelaide. The change marks a significant shift in the Australian MotoGP calendar, centering the race closer to a major population hub.
Shahin’s Strategic Role Beyond His Existing Racing Circuits
Despite owning two prominent tracks, The Bend Motorsport Park and Mallala, Shahin played a pivotal role in the deal even though neither venue will host the event. He stressed that his efforts were motivated by seizing the best opportunity rather than focusing exclusively on his own circuits. He explained on the Rusty’s Garage podcast,
“The Bend is the single largest private investment in Australian sport and entertainment history, in Australian motorsport history.”
Shahin added,
“It’s a substantial commitment, and I didn’t get this far to sit on my hands waiting for opportunity to hit me in the face. I’ve gone and chased opportunity wherever there is opportunity, and sometimes you just have to dig, you just have to find it.”
Aligning with Liberty Media’s Entertainment Vision
Understanding Liberty Media’s emphasis on bringing premier motorcycle racing to population centers as part of their ownership of the sport, Shahin adjusted his long-standing plans. He recounted,
“Here I am, a first-generation Palestinian immigrant with an opportunity to make a contribution to this great place that has given me hope, that has given me an identity and has given me an opportunity.”
This vision superseded his previous desire for the event to be held only at The Bend.
Maintaining his relationship with Dorna, Shahin proposed the idea of a street circuit event, highlighting the excitement of motorcycles reaching speeds of 335 km/h on Adelaide’s city streets.
“I think the prospect of MotoGP, of motorcycles, doing 335km/h on a street circuit is a compelling proposition. It’s exciting, it’s unique, it’s ambitious.”
He described how the proposal elicited a long silence on the other end of the call, reflecting Dorna’s surprise and deliberation.
Collaboration with Government to Secure the Event
Shahin’s endeavors included working closely with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who is known for safeguarding the Adelaide Supercars event. With Phillip Island’s MotoGP contract ending in 2026 and a state election approaching in March, the timeline was tight. Shahin said,
“By the time we got to October/November last year, it was either going to happen or it was not going to happen.”
The decisive moment came during the Adelaide 500 where Shahin arranged for Dorna representatives to inspect the proposed street circuit in person.
“I just had to bring Dorna over here and do it properly, and that did occur during the Adelaide 500, straight after the big event. We went through and walked the track.”
This hands-on approach accelerated the approval process.
Impact and Future Outlook for MotoGP in Australia
With Phillip Island’s final MotoGP race scheduled for this October, the transition to Adelaide’s street circuit marks a new chapter for the sport in Australia. The move is expected to invigorate local enthusiasm and attract larger crowds by bringing the world championship closer to the city. Shahin’s involvement reflects a broader trend of aligning major sporting events with urban settings to maximize fan engagement and economic benefits.
The 2027 Adelaide street circuit race will offer a novel and thrilling experience for riders and spectators alike, setting a high bar for future global MotoGP events on temporary urban tracks.
