Weather, Tires And Asphalt Are Very Influential On The Results Of The 2022 Indonesian MotoGP Race At The Mandalika Circuit

Yamaha Monster Energy factory team racer, Fabio Quartararo, rides during the free practice session of the 2022 Indonesian MotoGP at the Mandalika Circuit on March 18. (Photo: MotoGP)

JAKARTA - The 2022 Indonesian MotoGP motorcycle racing series at the Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, whose peak moment will occur on Sunday, March 20, is predicted to be fierce. Hard to predict what kind of madness in the race later.

Three things that will make the MotoGP race at Mandalika difficult to predict are the heat, the asphalt, and the tires that will be used. From the pre-season test at Mandalika on February 11-13, it was known that the asphalt coating on the circuit was not good.

From three days of pre-season testing, the asphalt layer in Mandalika was easily peeled off. Therefore, the re-paving was carried out in a hurry. Does that solve the problem? Not necessarily, because a new problem arose related to the tires.

To anticipate this problem, Michelin then provides tires that are "new but old". Tires with a softer blend are expected to be able to stick to the asphalt surface, not slip easily, so that the motor runs stably and riders don't fall easily.

Gabriel Rodrigo, a racer from Argentina who defended the Pertamina Mandalika SAG team and dropped in the Moto2 class in the Indonesian MotoGP series. (Photo: MotoGP)

The tires used for the pre-season test at Mandalika were deemed unsuitable for the asphalt on the circuit track. The tire mix is too hard, so it easily peels off the asphalt surface of the circuit. So look for a way out by using tires that have a softer mixture.

But some riders are also not completely sure that the use of the new tires will be 100 percent a solution. The tire is an old production, in 2018. This type of tire was last used in the 2018 MotoGP Thailand at the Buriram Circuit and has not been used since.

"We've been wearing those tires for a long time. I didn't say it was an old tire. It's a new tire, it's just the technology used for a long time. It seems that the organizers are too worried that there will be many accidents at Mandalika, so they have prepared tires that are said to be safer," said Jack Miller, the Ducati factory team rider as quoted by Crash.net.

Hot Weather Problem

Hot weather is the main enemy for the riders in the Mandalika MotoGP. The heat and humidity in Mandalika is expected to exceed the conditions in the two racing series held in tropical countries, Malaysia and Thailand.

"What we're going to face in the race is insane heat. In fact I think it will be hotter than in Malaysia. For example today, the weather was too hot so it was impossible to try the track. Anyway, there will be a lot of surprises for the riders. We'll see," said Andrea Dovisiozo (35 years), the most senior rider in the 2022 MotoGP and racing for the WithU Yamaha RNF team.

Franco Morbidelli of the Yamaha factory team said the only way out to overcome all these obstacles was to be in top condition for the riders.

The Asia Talent race, which will be the opening race for the 2022 Indonesian MotoGP at the Mandalika Circuit on March 20. (Photo: Asia Talent Cup)

"I'm at my best, but the team still warns me not to be too confident about physical fitness in the heat of the day like in Mandalika. For me this is a challenge, which is very interesting to take on,” said Morbidelli.

Aprillia factory team driver Aleix Espargaro also said the same thing.

“I have never felt the heat as crazy as in Mandalika. This condition will be very challenging for riders and motorcycles. In my view, the motor engine will not work optimally. The size of this engine is relatively small for a power of 300 horsepower, and he will definitely have difficulty breathing if he is driven in the middle of the day,” said Espargaro, who rode an Italian-made motorbike.

The three factors discussed above will greatly determine the course of the 2022 Indonesian MotoGP race at the Mandalika Circuit. Remember, the race will not only feature MotoGP. There are still three other types of races, namely the Asian Talent Cup, Moto3, and Moto2.

The asphalt of the Mandalika Circuit will be crushed by 100 racers who drive their motorbikes as fast as possible. Can you hold it? The Indonesian MotoGP start flag waving at Mandalika will start at 14.00 p.m. Indonesian Western Time (WIB), and will be held for 27 laps.