President Jokowi Inaugurates Mandalika Circuit In History Today, November 12, 2021

JAKARTA History today, four years ago, November 12, 2021, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Mandalika Circuit. Jokowi revealed that Mandalika is ready to be used for world-class racing celebrations from World Superbike to MotoGP.

Previously, Indonesia had a world-class racing circuit, Sentul Circuit. Indonesia can hold MotoGP. Problems arise. The Reformation Era changed everything. The organization of world-class coverage celebrations such as MotoGP has not been considered important.

Indonesia once had the ambition to hold world-class races in the New Order era. This wish was fully supported by President Suharto. The New Order leader made it easier for the Sentul Circuit to come. A circuit with a length of 3.9 Kilometers.

The circuit was inaugurated directly by Suharto on August 22, 1993. The presence of the Sentul Circuit made Indonesia dream of holding a big celebration. The big dream is to hold a land jet race, Formula One (F1).

The dream did not come. However, the world motorcycle racing celebration, MotoGP can still be held. The race took place in 1996-1997. All Indonesians enjoyed it. Recently, world-class racing celebrations were no longer present in Indonesia.

This condition was due to Suharto and the New Order stepping down. The next Indonesian President has not seen the importance of bringing back world-class racing celebrations. Everything changed when Jokowi became President of Indonesia.

Jokowi supports the private sector who wants to hold MotoGP at the Sentul Circuit in 2018. Jokowi once expressed his support so that the former Indonesian racer, Tinton Soeprapto, will bring MotoGP back. However, Jokowi himself changed his mind.

He thought Indonesia was able to build a new circuit in the Mandalika area, Lombok, NTB. Jokowi is serious about this narrative so that the Indonesian tourism climate does not only focus on Bali.

"We hope that the construction will be at the latest in January 2020. So that in 2020 the facilities that MotoGP wants are ready so that they are sure that in 2021 we can see MotoGP being held in Lombok. Later it will be built by pass, it will really exceed the toll road, because it is 50 meters wide. .

"Later, the picture will be shown to me. But it's not just for MotoGP. But it's the best access to Mandalika. So that Mandalika's development can become a New Bali," said Jokowi as quoted by lamankompas.com, 17 May 2019.

At its peak, Indonesia finally has a new racing circuit. President Jokowi also inaugurated the Mandalika Circuit on November 12, 2021. Jokowi revealed that the presence of the Mandalika Circuit was a sign of the World Superbike and MotoGP racing celebrations which would be present in Indonesia.

Jokowi even tried out the circuit track which has a length of 4.3 Kilometers and has 17 bends with motorbikes. Jokowi also pays attention to the Mandalika Circuit itself which has three main areas: race track, garage, and spectator stands.

The Mandalika circuit with a circuit length of 4.3 kilometers, with the latest asphalt technology, thestone mastic aphalt (SMA), has also been completed and is ready to be used. Everything is ready to be used to support the implementation of world-class events in the Mandalika area as soon to be held, namely World Superbike 2021 and will be continued later in March 2022 with MotoGP.

"Alhamdulillah, we should be grateful that the construction of the Lombok International Airport bypass road up to Mandalika with a length of 17.3 kilometers has been completed. The road is ready to be used so that the distance between the airport and Mandalika is only 15 minutes," said Jokowi as quoted on the Cabinet Secretariat website, November 12, 2021.