Before Mario Aji, These Indonesian Riders Were Predicted To Be Going Up In Class To MotoGP

Indonesian racer, Mario Suryo Aji, is expected to penetrate the MotoGP class. (Photo: Instagram @mariosuryoaj1)

JAKARTA - Indonesia is now hit by MotoGP fever. This is inseparable from the presence of the Mandalika Circuit which will host MotoGP in Indonesia.

Many Indonesians hope that there will be Indonesian racers who take part in MotoGP, especially if the race takes place at the Mandalika Circuit.

Currently there is one name that is the hope of the Indonesian people. He is a racer fostered by Astra Honda Racing Team, Mario Suryo Aji.

The rider from Magetan is now appearing in the Moto3 event, two levels below MotoGP. He had made his debut at the Losail Circuit, Qatar, last weekend.

The result is not satisfactory. However, the 17-year-old rider still has a long way to go, so the opportunity to MotoGP remains open.

Previously, there were several Indonesian riders who were also predicted to be able to penetrate the MotoGP race. The following is a list of names:

Doni Tata Pradipta

Doni Tata has experienced down in the 125cc world championship (now Moto3) and Supersport. However, he was only a wildcard racer at that time.

Only in 2008, Doni Tata had the opportunity to appear in the 250cc class (now Moto2) for a full season. Unfortunately, the performance is not so impressive.

Performing with Yamaha Indonesia Pertamina, his best achievement was finishing 15th in MotoGP China 2008. In total, he only earned one point and finished 28th in the final rider standings.

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In 2013, Doni Tata again had the opportunity to appear in the 2013 Moto2 world championship, this time with Federal Oil Gresini.

On this second occasion, Doni Tata was still unable to appear impressive. His best finish is 15th in Australia, the rest finishing outside the top 20. The dream to MotoGP was not achieved.

Dimas Ekky Pratama

The name Dimas Ekky had become a hope after appearing impressively in the FIM CEV Moto2 European event. He has even been on the third podium during the 2017 Catalunya and 2018 Albacete races.

His slick performance led him to the 2019 Moto2 world championship with Honda Team Asia. Unfortunately, his impressive performance in the FIM CEV is not contagious in Moto2.

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His best achievement was finishing 18th at the Malaysia Sepang Circuit. The rest, Dimas Ekky has not been able to talk much.

The racer from Depok, West Java, even had several serious accidents, including at the Assen Circuit, the Netherlands, which caused him to suffer a brain injury.

Galang Hendra Pratama

The name Galang Hendra Pratama once graced foreign media after winning the 2017 Supersport300 world championship race at the Jerez Circuit. Even though at that time he was only a wildcard.

One year later, he played for a full season in the same event with Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing. Had difficulties in the first two races, the rider from Yogyakarta rose again in the next race.

In fact, he won the title when the race was held at the Brno Circuit, Czech Republic. He finished 10th in the Supersport300 final standings in 2018 with 53 points.

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In 2019, Galang Hendra's performance is getting better. Although he has never climbed the podium, his position in the final standings of the riders has risen to seventh with 64 points.

This achievement made him move up the class to the Supersport world championship. Unfortunately, two seasons down in this event with bLucRu Yamaha (2020) and Ten Kate Racing (2021), Galang Hendra did not manage to show his best performance.

The best achievement is finishing 10th at the Aragon Circuit in 2021. Now, Galang Hendra is back competing in the Asia Road Racing Championship.

Andi Gilang

The racer whose real name is Andi Farid Idhizar made his international debut at the 2014 Asia Dream Cup. He finished sixth in the final drivers' standings at the event.

One year later, he competed in the Asia Talent Cup and finished 9th in the final standings with 104 points.

This performance led him to the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2016 and 2017 with the Astra Honda Racing Team. His performance was quite good with the best achievement of finishing fifth at the Albacete Circuit in 2017.

In 2019, he advanced to the FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship. In total, he collected 36 points and finished 14th in the final drivers' standings with the best score at the Catalunya Circuit by finishing fifth.

In 2020, Andi Gilang then got a golden opportunity. He was promoted by appearing in the Moto2 world championship with Honda Team Asia.

Unfortunately, this racer from Bulukumba doesn't want to talk much. He failed to get a single point.

In the 2021 race, he competed in the Moto3 world championship with the same team. Here, he only scooped four points with his best records being a 15th-place finish at Le Mans Circuit, Sachsenring Circuit, Red Bull Ring Circuit and Misano Circuit.