Following the TISSOT Grand Prix in Doha, representatives of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna Sports carried out an inspection of the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Wednesday 7 April 2021. The visit to Lombok, where the track is under construction, was carried out by FIM Grand Prix Safety Officer Franco Uncini, Dorna Race Direction representative Loris Capirossi and Dorna Sports Managing Director Carlos Ezpeleta to assess progress on the remarkable site.
During the inspection process, the representatives of FIM and Dorna Sports, appointed by the President Director of PT Pengembangan Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero) or Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation / ITDC Abdulbar M. Mansoer and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mandalika. Grand Prix Association (MGPA) Ricky Baheramsjah, were impressed by the development of the project and the implemented safety standards.
The goal remains for the new Mandalika International Street Circuit to host the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship on November 14, 2021. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic All parties involved agreed to hold the first FIM MotoGP World Championship Grand Prix on the track in the first part of the 2022 season, in principle in March. However, if MotoGP can hold events in Southeast Asia towards the end of 2021, efforts will be made to conduct a possible test of MotoGP class teams at the Mandalika International Street Circuit during that period, pending the track’s inclusion in the 2022 calendars.
Indonesian State Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir said: “I fully support the MotoGP event, which is due to take place in March 2022. This is in line with the Indonesian government’s accelerated national vaccination program. We want to guarantee the safety of national and international visitors. “
ITDC President Director Abdulbar M. Mansoer stated, “We thank FIM and Dorna for coming and conducting the technical visit, which went well and met their expectations. Now that we know the fixed month for the MotoGP ™ event, we can focus on completing the Mandalika International Street Circuit development project while maximizing the value of this world-class sporting event. “
“The visit to Lombok was very successful and we can confirm that the Mandalika International Street Circuit will be one of the most important venues on the calendar in the future. We also know that the fans from Indonesia are massive and the GPs are going to be some of the most iconic of the season. Indonesia is a key market, not just for Dorna but for everyone involved in the championship, “commented Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna.