GP500 Indonesian 25 Years Ago At Sentul Circuit Watched By 400 Million People Around The World

JAKARTA - President Suharto's concern for the world of sports cannot be doubted. He realized that sport is a powerful tool of struggle to raise the dignity of the nation in the eyes of the world. All forms of moral and material support are provided. Suharto even often gave his blessing to organize world sporting events. GP500 (Now: MotoGP) Sentul 1996-1997, for example, implementation brings many positive effects. In addition to motivating local racers, GP500 Sentul is able to lift the promotion of Indonesian tourism.

Indonesia's sports achievements are quite prominent during the Soeharto era. The skills of Indonesian athletes on the world sports stage need not be doubted. The big role of the Suharto government is behind it. Therefore, Indonesia was able to register its name as a winner, especially in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia has dominated the holding of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) since it first joined in 1977. Previously, the SEA Games itself was a continuation of the SEAP (Southeast Asian Peninsular) Games since 1959. During the Soeharto era, Indonesia has taken part in the SEA Games as many as 11 times. From 1977 to 1997.

Indonesia's achievements are also stunning. Indonesia's position as the top was only shaken by Thailand twice: 1985 and 1995. The rest of Indonesia always came out as champions. This record is a testament to Suharto's influence and consistency in supporting the world of sport. Suharto even set the National Sports Day on September 9, 1983.

The determination is a form of appreciation to national athletes who have made Indonesia proud. After that, Suharto developed the National Sports Idea. For the sake of producing quality athletes, he said. The concept of cultivating society and socializing sports emerged. Then, changed to the other way around. Promote sports and cultivate the community.

“The concept was then communicated by MF Siregar to the then Minister of Education and Culture, Daoed Joesoef. At that time Siregar served as Director of Sports/Directorate General of Out-of-school Education. Read the slogan: Exercising the Community and Promoting Sport.”

“Daoed said that statement should be reversed. Sports should be socialized first about its meaning and function. Only after people are aware of this can they exercise. This sports banner was then mandated by Suharto at the MPR/DPR Session on August 15, 1981, as a National Sports Idea,” said Brigitta Isworo Laksmi and Primastuti Handayani in the book MF Siregar: Matahari Sports Indonesia (2008).

Indonesia's Pride Circuit

The development carried out by the Suharto government is not only in coaching athletes, but also includes the procurement of sports facilities and the organization of international events. The presence of the Sentul International Circuit is proof of that. The government fully supports the initiation of the presence of the International Circuit facility. In fact, Suharto himself acted as the person who directly inaugurated the 3.965 km long circuit in 1993.

The circuit was successful in replacing its predecessor: the Ancol Circuit. World racers also give their praise to the Sentul Circuit. The facilities are complete. All of these advantages have made Sentul the new pulse for organizing national and international racing events – cars and motorcycles. A number of sponsors were lined up to support the success of the event.

“Don't compare it to Ancol. Here the circuit surface is very smooth. It really helps to develop speed,” said Irish Superbike racer Tony Carey as quoted by Yudi Yarmanto and Andi Reza Rohadian in his article in Tempo Magazine entitled Circuit Praised, Tinton was Champion (1992).

A good circuit capital makes Indonesia confident to bring the GP500 world-class racing event to Indonesia. Father-daughter support (Soeharto and Hutomo Mandala Putra) is the origin of Indonesia – the Sentul Circuit – included in the GP500 calendar.

Indonesia also had the opportunity to host the GP500 twice: 1996 and 1997. This event made the public's interest high. Moreover, racing figures such as Loris Capirossi and Mick Doohan are so infatuated by race lovers in the country. On the 1996 Sentul GP500, for example, exciting competition in the highest caste GP500 for spectators who came to reach 100 thousand people. Whether they have tickets or not.

Suharto also participated when the GP500 was first held in 1996. He opened the event and handed over the winning trophy to the MotoGP high-class champion. He also did not forget to pose with the three winners. Mick Doohan (Australia), Alex Barros (Brazil), and Loris Capirossi (Italy).

Viewed by 400 Million People

High enthusiasm was also shown by all motorcycle racing lovers when the 1997 Sentul GP500 was held. The audience who came to Sentul Circuit exploded. Similarly, the number of viewers who watch live via television. The GP500 show is broadcast live in 58 countries. The total who witnessed it was astonishing: 400 million people.

This success has had a positive impact on Indonesia. Because of this, the name and tourism of Indonesia have been raised. Suharto himself immediately agreed that the implementation of the GP500 had succeeded as an extraordinary tourism promotion tool. Because, in the year following the implementation of the GP500, the level of foreign tourist visits has increased significantly.

The statement was claimed directly by the leader of the Indonesian GP500, Roberto Nosetto. Not only tourism, but the success of the GP500 has also raised Indonesia's image in world automotive sports. Because Indonesia has presented many world-class racing titles. GP500 so the most recent.

“When the 1994 World Superbike Championship was held at Sentul International Circuit, the sixth round of 12 series that year, there was a record audience – about 40 thousand people – and the event was broadcast live by Star TV and RCTI. When the MotoGP world championship was held, spectator cars had to be parked along the dozens of kilometers of toll roads, because the area within the circuit could not accommodate the flood of vehicles to the location.

“Mr. Harto took the initiative to say that through sports, extraordinary tourism promotions would be created. Previously, President Soekarno, said that sport is the most reliable means of struggle in increasing the pride of the nation in the eyes of the world," concluded AR Loebis as quoted by Sugiono MP in the book Goodbye Pak Harto: Documents of the Departure of a Nation's Leader (2008).