JAKARTA - The Pertamina Mandalika Circuit will be busy this weekend as MotoGP teams and riders will test their new mounts and try out a new track on the calendar for the first time.
After completing two days of testing in Sepang, Malaysia, Marc Marquez et al. earlier this week arrived in Lombok and the MotoGP world championship returned to Indonesia for the first time in more than two decades.
During the three days of testing at Mandalika, the riders will try to get to know the circuit which has six turns to the left and 11 to the right, as well as the main straight which is shorter than Sepang's.
The test will take place from 09:00 to 17:00 WITA on 11-13 February.
Those three days will be crucial for the teams and riders to confirm the results of developing their new bike and determine the direction for the start of the season before the championship opens in Qatar on March 6.
Monster Energy Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli hopes for a more productive test at Mandalika after the riders were only given two days at Sepang.
"We will now analyze and study all the information we have gathered and compare it with the feedback from the drivers," said Meregalli.
"In Mandalika, we will try to confirm everything, and there we will make the final decision on how we start the season."
Meanwhile Ducati has shown its potential this season when Enea Bastianini of the Gresini Racing team set an unofficial record at the Sepang Circuit on the second day of testing.
And this season eight Ducatis will pose a threat to their rivals when the Italian manufacturer lost the race for the drivers' title last season.
2021 runner-up Francesco Bagnaia has seen the potential of the Desmosedici GP22 and will dig deeper in Mandalika.
"We're definitely not at the level I want to be, but I know we'll get there," Bagnaia said.
"With only two days of work on this new bike, we have taken a big step forward, and with each session we keep getting better.
"Now we will continue to work in this direction to be ready at the start of the championship.
"Right now, I'm not concentrating on making the best time. My priority is to work on developing the bike, which has shown a lot of potential.
"I'm satisfied and can't wait to get back on track for the three days of testing in Indonesia."
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