MotoGP Releases Provisional Calendar 2022, Mandalika Hosts 2nd Series

Lombok Mandalika Circuit (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - MotoGP on Thursday released a provisional calendar for the 2022 racing season in which the Mandalika International Circuit, Lombok will host the second series of races on March 20 after the opening series in Qatar on March 6.

With a track length of 4.3 km, the Mandalika Circuit will also have the honor of being a MotoGP pre-season test arena on 11-13 February 2022, one week after the first pre-season test in Sepang, Malaysia.

Director of Strategy and Communication of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) Happy Harinto in a press release on Thursday welcomed Dorna's official announcement regarding the implementation of MotoGP in Indonesia because it will boost the tourism sector in Indonesia, especially in Lombok.

Regarding the preparation of the circuit whose construction stage has reached 100 percent, MGPA continues to improve itself, especially in preparation for the implementation of the Asia Talent Cup, 12-14 November 2021 and the World Super Bike Series Indonesia on 19-21 November 2021.

"We will continue to improve ourselves from the first year to the next ten years so that the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit will become a circuit that presents world-class races that we can be proud of," Happy said.

Dorna Sport has prepared 21 races, which is a new record, on the temporary MotoGP calendar for next season. In 2020 they planned 20 races but the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to cut the calendar to 14 races, all in Europe.

This season the races increased to 18 but six races were canceled for the second year (Argentina, Finland, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia).

In addition to the Mandalika Circuit, the KymiRing Circuit in Finland will make its debut in the world's most prestigious motorcycle racing world championship as host of the 13th series on July 10 this year.

Manufacturers tested the KymiRing layout for the first time in August 2019 and Finland will host another Grand Prix since the last time in 1982.

The MotoGP circus will visit the Americas starting the 3rd series in Argentina on April 3, 2022 and the United States on April 10, 2022 before embarking on a European tour starting in Portugal on April 24, 2022.

The end of the season will be filled with triple header races in Aragon, Japan and Thailand before the last three series in Australia, Malaysia and Valencia.

Here is the MotoGP 2022 provisional calendar:

6 March - Qatar - Losail20 March - Indonesia - Mandalika3 April - Argentina - Termas de Rio Hondo10 April - United States - COTA24 April - Portugal - Portimao1 May - Spain - Jerez15 May - France - Le Mans29 May - Italy - Mugello5 June - Catalunya - Barcelona19 June - Germany - Sachsenring26 June - Netherlands - Assen10 July - Finland - KymiRing7 August - England - Silverstone21 August - Austria - Red Bull Ring4 September - San Marino - Misano18 September - Teruel - Aragon25 September - Japan - Motegi2 October - Thailand - Buriram16 October - Australia - Phillip Island23 October - Malaysia - Sepang6 November - Valencia - Ricardo Tormo