Ahead of MotoGP 2023, Mandalika Circuit is Closed to the Public

Officers carried out cleaning and painting in several kerb and run-offs in the Mandalika Circuit area, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). BETWEEN/HO-MGPA

CENTRAL LOMBOK - The Mandalika Circuit in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara is temporarily closed for public activities ahead of the MotoGP event on October 13-15, 2023.

MGPA Main Director, Priandhi Satria said, the closure of the Mandalika Circuit will be carried out from Monday, September 18 to October 15, 2023 for public activities such as track-days, track-walks and other visits.

"This closure is carried out in order to prepare the circuit for the MotoGP-2023 event which will be held on October 13-15, 2023," he said in a written statement in Mataram, Antara, Monday, September 18.

On the circuit side, his party will carry out various preparations such as scraping and painting the curbs, installing sensors for the new track-limit area according to the FIM's request, and timing systems.

Meanwhile, in the paddock, his party will also place various tents and supporting buildings, and in the inner-circuit area, including installing a music booth tent stage for MSMEs, motorsport zone area, eating and drinking area and various other purposes.

"We carried out all these improvements and improvements to welcome the MotoGP event, so we must take advantage of this event to introduce and bring the good name of Mandalika, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and Indonesia through the presence of various racing teams, media and of course also TV broadcasts which will be broadcast live. in various countries," he explained.

For this reason, his party stated that they really need various assistance from the central government and also of course the regional government to make the MotoGP-2023 event run well and of course lively with various activities that reflect Indonesian social and culture.

Contacted by telephone, the Head of the NTB Tourism Service, Jamaluddin Malady, said that closing the Mandalika Circuit area was a normal thing because it had become a routine agenda for the MGPA and ITDC to make improvements ahead of MotoGP.

"Indeed, every year before MotoGP activities there is repair and painting of the track because it has faded. So closing this does not mean forever but temporarily," he said.

Jamaluddin appealed to the public or tourists who want to visit the Mandalika Circuit not to be disappointed, because the closure is only within the circuit area, not the entire Mandalika area.

"If you look at or take photos of the circuit, you can see it from Jokowi Hill. So we ask tourists to understand because the MotoGP activities are only 2 weeks away, so they need repairs and preparation. Even if you want to go on holiday, hold on for now, just take a vacation later while watching MotoGP, so the holidays are even more interesting," he said.