Australian MotoGP Falls Flat with Record Low Crowds

A record small crowd attended the Australian MotoGP at Philip Island on the weekend, with only 31,500 people watching the race on Sunday.

That figure is the lowest race-day attendance since the Victorian circuit regularly began hosting the event in 1997.

Over the three days, 77,200 people attended, which was slightly better than the lowest ever figure in 2001, when 75,870 people attended over three days.

The absence of Australian Casey Stoner is being blamed for the sparse crowds, but organisers did say they had hoped the excitement of a new winner would attract larger crowd numbers.

However, Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott said he was happy with the numbers.

“Attendance was in line with what we had anticipated. We were expecting between 70-80,000 so we are happy with the result,” he said.

“International television viewership was strong, especially given the very competitive nature of the championship.

“This only furthers Victoria’s reputation for staging major events of international repute.”