MotoGP: Lombok's Mandalika Circuit Passes Grade A Homologation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Mandalika Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has passed the Grade A homologation of FIM, the international motorcycling federation, and was declared eligible to hold the MotoGP race this weekend.

The racers also said that the 4.3 km circuit is safer than it was during the pre-season test sessions on February 11-13. At that time, they complained about the dirty, dusty track, and chipped asphalt, in addition to bits of asphalt or small stones that are thrown at them like bullets when driving behind other racers.

They were still not used to the new circuit due to the narrow racing line as there were not many rubber tires attached to the asphalt, so the racers were unable to push their motorbikes to the limit.

Based on those results, Dorna Sports and FIM identified two areas that needed improvement, namely the cleanliness of the track surface and the amount of aggregate, such as sand, dust, and gravel or crushed stones on top of the track. It also recommended repaving sections of the track before Turn 17 to after Turn 5, or approximately 17.5 percent of the total track.

"Based on the results of track inspection by Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Dorna Sports, and IRTA on Thursday (March 17), Pertamina Mandalika Circuit has passed grade A homologation," stated ITDC president director Abdulbar M. Mansoer.

"Grade A is FIM's highest grade, which also means that our circuit is highly eligible to hold the MotoGP event," he added.

A number of facility improvement for the circuit was done by ITDC and MGPA to meet the requirements for homologation assessment according to FIM guidelines.

Previously, Mandalika Circuit obtained the Grade B rating during the World Superbike in November