MotoGP Doesn't Question The Dirty Track At The Mandalika Circuit Pre-Season Test

Marc Marquez (INSTAGRAM @motogp)

JAKARTA — The MotoGP party did not question the dirty track conditions at the Mandalika Circuit on the first day of the 2022 pre-season test. They understand that the problem is normal for the new track.

The pre-season test at the Mandalika Circuit has started to be held on Friday, February 11. However, the morning test session was interrupted because the track was dirty by soil brought by rainwater.

Dorna Race Direction Representative Loris Capirossi said that dirty track conditions were quite normal for the new circuit.

"About the track, it's normal for the first time to be a little dirty, because no one raced before us", Capirossi said as quoted by ANTARA.

The dirt track is at the first corner. For this reason, the officers raised a red flag after the morning session lasted for about one and a half hours to allow the organizers to clean up the dirt track.

The track reopened at 12.00 WITA and the riders continued testing their new motorbikes.

Capirossi, who had reviewed the construction of the Mandalika Circuit in April last year, said he was impressed with the work that had been completed on the track, although there was still room for improvement.

"Because it's just a test, we have time to clean it and organize everything. But we hope that from tomorrow and Sunday, the track conditions are good for testing and everything. But anyway for the new track things like that are normal", he said.

Meanwhile, Eddy Saputra as Deputy Race Committee revealed that the dirty track conditions were caused by less than optimal cleaning. In fact, it should be cleaned every day for two weeks before racing.

"It seems they (the committee) are a bit late because the location is also close to the beach. So maybe the dust particles got into the track. The point is one, it's dirty because there is a sea factor, the cleaning method is also different, you have to use pulled carpet, (asphalt) cannot be brushed", said Eddy.

On the first day of the test Pol Espargaro from Repsol Honda came out as the fastest rider. He beat his brother Aleix Espargaro who rode the Aprilia team motorbike.

Espargaro closed the first day of testing with a time of 1 minute 32.466 seconds. The 30-year-old racer was 0.471 seconds ahead of his brother who was trailing in second place.

The test session will last until Sunday, February 13th. The Mandalikan race will be held on March 18-20 2022 or after the first series at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.