MotoGP Convoy in Jakarta; Jokowi Scraps Plan to Ride Along

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, on Wednesday, scrapped his initial plan to ride along with MotoGP riders in the capital city of Jakarta in a motorcycle parade ahead of the Pertamina Mandalika race scheduled for March 20. 

Eventually, Jokowi only kick-started the riders’ parade around the city that started from the President’s Merdeka Palace. He told journalists that he intended to participate in the convoy but was suggested to cancel the plan due to safety reasons. 

“I was not permitted to ride my motorcycle due to safety reasons,” said the President to Antaranews on March 16. 

MotoGP riders such as Marc Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, and Francesco Bagnaia posed for a photo session with the President, who sat on his green custom motorcycle during the event at the Merdeka Palace. 

Even though it did not last long, the arrival of a motorcycle convoy participated by the world’s best motorcycle racers from the peak of the world’s motorcycling championship series attracted many fans to crowd the route focused on Central Jakarta. 

Many Jakartans were seen taking pictures and greeting the racers as they will then head to Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara for the second race in the calendar. The last time Indonesia hosted a MotoGP race was back in 1997 that was held in Sentul Circuit.

Read: Jokowi: 60,000 Tickets of MotoGP Mandalika Sold Out

ANTARA