MGPA Optimistic Mandalika Circuit Can Get Grade A Before MotoGP Race

Mandalika Circuit (MGPA Official Instagram)

JAKARTA – The Mandalika Circuit will be inspected by the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) before the race. It is believed that the cross-circuit asphalt will get grade A homoglation.

The FIM will go down directly to conduct an assessment on Thursday, March 17. To host the MotoGP, the Mandalika Circuit must pocket a grade A from the international motorcycle parent.

"The most important thing is asphalt, everything else is just beautification. We are optimistic that we can get grade A homologation and MotoGP is safe," said the Managing Director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) Priandhi Satria in an official statement.

Homologation is a procedure for assessing all aspects of racing against circuit licensing standards. The FIM as the world's motor racing authority has six levels of licenses or grades ranging from A to F.

This grade is very important because it will determine what races can be held at the circuit concerned. To be able to hold a Grand Prix like MotoGP, like it or not, the Mandalika Circuit must have a grade A license.

"Now the track looks much better. The details are bigger and tighter. The FIM will come today or tomorrow. The safety officer will see the track for the homologation process," said Priandhi.

The Mandalika Circuit will be the second series of the MotoGP calendar this season which will be held on March 18-20. Currently, the Indonesian pride circuit is in a ready-to-use condition after the re-paving process was completed in the middle of last week.

After the pre-season test in February, Dorna and the FIM suggested improvements in several corners of the 4.31 km track. However, due to sufficient time, the re-paving was carried out from after Turn 16 to Turn 5.

Building a track for an event like MotoGP is not easy. Paving must be done by considering the speed of the riders who will pass on the circuit.

So far, Indonesia has never had a track that will be passed at speeds exceeding 250 km/hour. Even for the Mandalika MotoGP, the speed taken by the racer can be up to 300 km / hour.

Currently, the MGPA continues to fix some minor things such as red-and-white paint on the curb and green paint on the run-off area. In addition, there was a cleaning of the walls as well as the installation of global branding for Dorna Sport partners at several points.