Former TNI Commander Hadi Tjahjanto: Mandalika Circuit Facilities And Infrastructure Continue To Be Improved Ahead Of MotoGP

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Facilities and infrastructure at the five entrances to the Mandalika circuit area, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, continue to be improved ahead of the Mandalika 2022 MotoGP race in March.

"We also continue to improve facilities and infrastructure, including opening five entrances to Mandalika," said Field Commander for the 2022 Mandalika MotoGP, Marshal TNI (Ret.) Hadi Tjahjanto, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, December 28.

The five entrances are Gili Mas Harbor, Bangsal Harbor, Lembar Harbor, Kayangan Port, and Lombok International Airport.

Hadi said that the improvement of facilities and infrastructure at the four ports and airports was carried out so that MotoGP spectators who came from outside NTB could feel a comfortable and pleasant experience when setting foot on the circuit arena which is located in the special economic zone (KEK) Mandalika.

Especially for airports, the former TNI Commander also ensured that the international arrivals area could also be accommodated by wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and 747.

"International can accommodate wide-bodied aircraft at Lombok International Airport, (Boeing) 777 and 747, so for logistical support there is also no problem because six planes can park on the apron that has been prepared by the airport," he said.

Furthermore, from the five doors, a shuttle bus will be prepared to Mandalika. In addition to the facilities and infrastructure at the five entrances, improvements were also made in the Mandalika circuit area, such as the paddock, pit building, and circuit track.

"Also, what will be prepared for the audience is a grand stand whose capacity we have prepared for 50 thousand, so for both premium and regular audiences we will prepare it outside the royal box," said Hadi.

Regarding the possibility of residents watching the MotoGP match from the hills around the Mandalika Circuit area, Hadi said he had anticipated this.

"We will arrange it later and we will also give tickets to enter. Yesterday we discussed it with the regent, then with the village head, and from ITDC (Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation)," he said.

He is committed to packaging the Mandalika MotoGP event as well as possible, considering that the event is part of the promotion of Indonesian tourism.

Furthermore, Hadi said that coordination with related ministries and institutions was also continuously carried out to ensure the success of the 2022 Mandalika MotoGP.

His party has coordinated with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy regarding the promotion of the event. In addition, efforts are also made to find a way out related to housing or lodging needs that are still not sufficient.

"There are only 29,000 hotels or rooms in Lombok, so we are also trying to build homestays in areas near Mandalika, including we will bring in a cruise which has a capacity of 2,000, two ships, including Pelni we will also bring," he said.

Hadi added that his party had also met with the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi to carry out a commuter flight from Bali to Lombok. Thus, spectators who want to watch the Mandalika MotoGP can stay first in Bali, then transfer to Lombok on the day of the match.

"The audience can stay in Bali and we will deliver in the morning. Currently, we will open five flights for commuter flights. It is also possible that later Labuan Bajo, if there are spectators from Labuan Bajo such as Makassar or Surabaya, so whatever is needed later by the community we have prepared," said Hadi.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G Plate said that to ensure flight safety due to heavy traffic during the Mandalika MotoGP, his party would mobilize a mobile unit from the Kominfo Monitoring Center in Lombok to coordinate with the Kominfo Monitoring Center in Denpasar, Banyuwangi, and Surabaya.

"This is important to ensure that there is no interference from communication devices on aircraft in the cockpit with radio equipment on the ground. This frequency spectrum will be maintained through the equipment of the Kominfo Monitoring Center which will be deployed in Mandalika later," said Johnny.