Gresini Racing Boss Says About Repaving Mandalika Circuit: We'll See If Our Tires Interact Well With The Road

The Mandalika Circuit was immediately repaired (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Gresini Racing Team appreciates the re-paving of the Mandalika circuit after the 2022 MotoGP pre-season trial was carried out.

Comm & Marketing Director of Gresini Racing, Carlo Merlini, said the team was excited about the new Mandalika circuit, after conducting a pre-season test at the Sepang circuit, Malaysia, which is visited every year.

"Of course everyone wants to try that circuit and see if our tires interact well with the asphalt or the road at the Mandalika Circuit," Merlini said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, February 22.

"Mandalika is also a very good testing ground because we know that the circuit and the championship this time will be very exciting. We know that currently repairs are being made to the asphalt," he added.

Gresini Racing's Enea Bastianini, who was fastest in the Sepang pre-season test, praised the Mandalika circuit and said the test went well.

"Indeed we have always been very competitive, and the circuit is indeed very extraordinary, and during the tests we did it felt very good results," said Bastianini.

"The track may not have been at its best at that time... but there is still a lot of work to be done to improve it, after many laps have passed, the asphalt is finally fixed."

"However, for a racer like me, it's still difficult, especially because it was a bit rainy at that time, and the track was a bit different compared to other tracks abroad."

Bastianini added that the Mandalika track requires riders to be careful because there are so many corners, but it is the part that he really likes.

"And I really want to be able to excel at the Mandalika circuit later," said Bastianini.

Heavy equipment belonging to PT. The Housing Development (PP) has arrived at the Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, Saturday, which will then be used to exfoliate the track surface and simultaneously set-up the Asphalt Mixing Plant (AMP) while waiting for the rest of the equipment to arrive.

President Director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA), Priandhi Satria, said that the track repair process is expected to be completed on March 10, according to the set target.

Previously, President Director of PT PP Novel Arsyad assured that his party was committed to making the Mandalika Circuit track meet race safety and security standards and complete work on time.

Paving is carried out in the segment of bend 16.5 which leads to a straight track along 507 meters, to bend 5.5 which leads to bends 6, 7, 8, and 9.

The 2022 Mandalika MotoGP will be held on March 18-20.