JAKARTA - The riders felt a different atmosphere from other countries hosting the MotoGP world championship after arriving in Indonesia and being greeted by their fanatical fans.
Marc Marquez, Enea Bastianini and Pol Espargaro were among the group of 20 riders who met President Joko Widodo at the presidential palace and paraded through the streets of Jakarta on Wednesday this week.
They greeted the fans by riding mass-produced sports motorbikes from various brands in the capital before leaving for Lombok for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia this weekend at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit.
Indonesia will hold a big celebration, namely MotoGP for the first time in 25 years after the Grand Prix of Indonesia was last held in Sentul in 1997.
"In Indonesia the fans are amazing. When we arrived there, many people were waiting outside the airport, and also on the streets," Bastianini said at a pre-race press conference session at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, Thursday, quoted by Antara.
"Seeing the president for the first time is also amazing. I've never greeted a president before, and it's very emotional for me," said the rider who tasted his first MotoGP victory after winning the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Espargaro agreed that the parade would make the MotoGP racers look like rock music stars who were hailed by their fans.
"It's great to be in a place like this. You can show what you love which is motorbikes to people who also love the sport of racing that you do at this high level... so passionate and so beautiful, people love it ," said the Repsol Honda racer.
Espargaro's teammate, Marquez is already familiar with the nuances of Indonesia because the six-time MotoGP world champion has often visited the island nation.
"Since I came here for the first time in 2014, I have felt that Indonesian fans are different," said Marquez.
"Yesterday was a different day, another important event for MotoGP and the MotoGP riders and for the manufacturers. I can't wait to race in front of them all," he said.
The Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia will start with the MotoGP FP1 session on Friday at 10:50-11:35 WITA, followed by FP2 at 15:05-15:50.
Then, FP3 on Saturday from 10:50 to 11:35, followed by FP4 at 2:25-14:55, and qualifying at 15:05-15:45.
On Sunday, the warm-up session starts at 10:40 and the race starts at 15:00.
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