MotoGP Pre-Season Test: FIM Highlights Dirty Conditions At Mandalika Circuit

The Mandalika Circuit has been highlighted by the International Motor Racing Federation (FIM) because its condition is still dirty. (Photo: Twitter@MotoGP)

JAKARTA - Franco Uncini, as the Grand Prix Safety Officer of the International Motorcycle Racing Federation (FIM), on Saturday opened his voice about the track conditions of the Mandalika Circuit which had been in the spotlight when the official MotoGP test session took place there.

The first day of testing on Friday was temporarily suspended due to a dirty track and dangerous for the riders, before being cleared and reopened at midday so the teams and riders could continue testing their new bikes.

Riders like Andrea Dovizioso from the RNF Yamaha team even complained about the amount of pebbles that flew from the motorbikes of the riders in front of him.

2020 world champion Joan Mir also encountered mud on the track, which had been raining on Thursday night, while testing the Suzuki GSX-RR motorcycle on the first day.

The dirty track conditions are exacerbated by the narrow racing line because the circuit is rarely used for racing and the lack of rubber tires attached to the asphalt. This causes the riders to be unable to push the limit of their motorbikes so that they are faster.

"There's just a little dust on the track, maybe because it's not ready for this test of course because there's a lot of work around the circuit," said Uncini when met by Antara in Mandalika, Saturday.

Inside the circuit, heavy equipment is still used to install the stands and other buildings, while outside the circuit area, workers are building new roads to welcome the MotoGP event which will be held on March 18-20.

Learning from yesterday's incident, the committee then routinely cleaned the track, and the track conditions on the second day allowed the riders to go faster than the previous day.

"This is under control, because it only requires the engine (track jet) to clean it, the problem has been solved," said Uncini, who was the 1982 500cc world champion.

Approximately one month before the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika, Uncini stated that the circuit on the south coast of Lombok Island was generally ready to be used for racing, but the committee had to be able to keep the track clean.

What needs to be fixed? "First, it has to be cleaned properly, very well, and nothing else because everything is fine and the riders are satisfied," said the Italian.

On the same day, the Vice President Director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association, Cahyadi Wanda, said that all construction activities would be completed in early March, so that when MotoGP took place there would be no more construction work around the circuit.

"In the beginning of March everything was done, so when they came here there was no construction, that was the key."

Then he further said that this weekend's pre-season test session was also a means of evaluation before the Indonesian Grand Prix later.

"After this pre-season, even if there is (rework) it is minor, there is no major work for the track," said Cahyadi.

MGPA is also waiting for the results of the final investigation from Dorna Sports and the FIM regarding the cause of the dirty track at the Mandalika Circuit.