Nestled on a small piece of land located some 78 miles (125 km) off the coast of Melbourne, Australia, the Phillip Island Circuit has been for years one of the most important race tracks in the world. Over the decades, it was home to the Australian GP, World Superbikes races, V8 supercars show-offs, you name it.
The place has also been home to the MotoGP series, hosting one leg of one of the most interesting motorcycle racing series in the world over the past 28 years or so. That will change, though, as, citing a variety of reasons, from weather conditions to the need to modernize the track, MotoGP is moving from Phillip Island starting next season.
The final Grand Prix of the series there was supposed to take place this past weekend, but it was cancelled on account of weather and visibility issues. This kind of robbed those who wanted the bid the proper farewell to the track of their opportunity to do so.
As one of the bike makers that have made history over the years at Phillip Island, Italian bike maker Aprilia presented in the week that preceded the now-cancelled last race on the track a special edition of its RS 660 mid-range sports bike.
Officially called the Aprilia RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute, the bike comes with unique graphics and equipment, carefully selected and tailored in such a way as to not only honor the circuit, but also to remind people of what the place meant for Aprilia.
Photo: Aprilia
Over on the remote island, the bike maker secured over the years ten victories across the various classes of the MotoGP World Championship, and a number of wins in the Superbike World Championship.
It is also the place where, back in 2025, rider Raul Fernandez rode the RS-GP motorcycle to the win in MotoGP, marking Aprilia’s 300th win in the World Motorcycle Championship and making the brand the most successful European manufacturer in the history of the event.
The Aprilia RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute carries all that history on its bodywork, starting with the dedicated livery and ending with the side panels that carry, as a sort of permanent tattoo, the circuit’s logo formed by the track layout, the words Phillip Island Circuit, and the chequered flag at the finish line.
Built on a bike whose base color is white, the Tribute features green on the sides and tail section and red on the wheel rims as a means to highlight the colors of the circuit’s logos. The badge on the fuel tank is there to remind everyone of the number of victories Aprilia scored at Phillip Island over the years.
Photo: Aprilia
The bike also comes equipped with a passenger seat cover included as standard, and there is a serial number inscribed on the steering head plate.
Mechanically speaking, the Phillip Island Tribute is not different from the RS 660 it is based on. That means its frame holds the standard 660cc four-valve, front-mounted twin-cylinder engine, capable of developing 105 hp at 10,400 rpm and 70 Nm of torque at 8,400 rpm.
Just like in the rest of the range, the engine acts as a load-bearing element for the motorcycle and is controlled by means of a bidirectional electronic transmission.
The Tribute also carries over the many technologies that are packed into the production version, including traction control, wheelie control, engine braking control, cornering ABS and engine mapping, controlled via the electronic throttle control.
Photo: Aprilia
Aprilia did not say how many of these bikes it will make, or how much one of them will cost. It did say, however, that it would be bringing the two-wheeler to the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori (EICMA) show in Milan, Italy, which opens its doors early next month. autoevolution will be on location, and we’ll send word on availability and pricing if and when Aprilia reveals them.
As for the Australian Grand Prix for next year’s MotoGP season, even if Phillip Island falls off the calendar, the race will still be held. The track that will replace the Island is the one in Adelaide.
Unveiled in the summer of this year, the local circuit will become home to the world’s first city-center MotoGP race to come to life, as it will unfold itself on the city’s streets. The new circuit stretches for 2.56 miles (4.13 km) and comes with 15 corners.
The track is a reimagining of the former Formula 1 layout in Adelaide, featuring some of its most important sections, including Stag Corner, Rundle Road, Brewery Bend and Dequetteville Terrace back to life.
The 2027 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix is scheduled for the weekend of November 12, with only one race left in the calendar after that, the one in Spain. For the record, the 2027 MotoGP has no less than 22 races planned, the same as this year’s season.