JAKARTA – For the Suzuki Ecstar Alex Rins, the distance to the Mandalika Circuit is quite far. However, he did not deny the beauty of the circuit.
Racing outside Europe such as in Mandalika does require extra struggle. Racers will travel long distances on planes that have the potential to make them jetlagged.
"These circuits are far but they are very good tracks. For example, this year we have a new circuit, Mandalika, Indonesia! In my opinion, the circuit I will choose is a circuit outside Europe," Rins said on Suzuki's YouTube channel.
The Mandalika Circuit is a newcomer to the MotoGP calendar this year. The race there will be the second MotoGP 2022 series which will take place on March 18-20.
Rins had previously been to Mandalika during a pre-season test in February. At that time the 27-year-old Spaniard recorded a time of 1 minute 31.447 seconds on the third day of the test.
After the pre-season, Rins was enthusiastic about returning to participate in the second series of races which took place at Mandalika later. For him racing outside of Europe he has always been waiting for.
"This year will be a different and new experience for everyone. In the end, it's been two years since we traveled all the way outside of Europe. And I look forward to going to Malaysia or a circuit where we only go once a year," he said.
Before going to Mandalika, Rins will stop in Jakarta first. He and his teammate Joan Mir were included in the list of drivers invited by President Joko Widodo to the Merdeka Palace.
At the Merdeka Palace later they will be entertained and chat with the President. After that, Rins and his colleagues will participate in an hour-long parade with 18 other racers to the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.
When competing in the first Mandalika series on March 6, Joan Mir and Rins finished outside the top five. The two took sixth and seventh place respectively, with Johann Zarco, Fabio Quartararo and Takaaki Nakagami completing the top ten.
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