Indonesia agrees three-year deal to host first MotoGP street race
Indonesia has signed a three-year deal to host a MotoGP street race starting from 2021
Plans to construct an all-new venue in the Mandalika area of the island of Lombok, with the aim of hosting MotoGP, were originally reported by Autosport in November.
A final deal has now been reached between the state-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation and MotoGP promoter Dorna.
The new track will host MotoGP events between 2021 and '23.
Abdulbar M Mansoer, president director of the IDTC, confirmed to Autosport that the contract was signed on January 21 in Madrid.
Abdullar said the design of the circuit, which is likely to be a 4.32-kilometre layout featuring 18 corners, has already been approved by FIM Safety Officer Franco Uncini.
"The street circuit will be built from zero, unlike the tracks in Singapore and Monaco," he said.
"When it is not being raced on, it will be used as a regular highway in the area.
"We estimate a fast construction process for the circuit, as we only need to build roads and paddocks."
The project will be carried out by French company Vinci Construction, which is set to begin paving the surface for the track in September of this year.
An option to extend the deal past its initial three-year duration exists in the contract, according to Abdullar.
The race, which is set to be MotoGP's first-ever street circuit event, will allow the championship to finally break into one of the world's largest markets for motorcycles.
The calendar currently comprises 19 events but, with Finnish venue KymiRing expected to join in 2020, the Indonesia race could take the MotoGP schedule past the 20-race mark.
Previous article
Moto2's Brad Binder says he's been promised a KTM MotoGP test
Next article
Aprilia reveals its 2019 MotoGP livery
The three factors that crowned MotoGP’s newest champion at Misano
The prospect of Fabio Quartararo clinching the 2021 MotoGP world championship title at Misano appeared small after struggling to 15th in qualifying, while main rival Francesco Bagnaia took pole. Here's how the Yamaha rider turned it around, with help from an ill-fated Bagnaia tyre choice, to secure the crown with two races to spare
Marco Simoncelli: Remembering MotoGP's ultimate maverick 10 years on
Saturday 23 October marks the 10th anniversary of Marco Simoncelli's death. The one-time 250cc world champion and double MotoGP podium finisher was the ultimate maverick character with big hair, a big personality and an even bigger talent. Autosport pays tribute to a much-missed figure, a decade on
Why Quartararo has evolved more than Yamaha on his road to the MotoGP title
Fabio Quartararo has his first match point in the 2021 MotoGP title race this weekend at Misano. While the 2021 Yamaha is a much-improved bike to its inconsistent predecessor, its the rider himself who has shown the biggest evolution this season. Oriol Puigdemont delves into Quartararo's growth.
How KTM has wrestled control of young MotoGP talent from Honda
There once was a time when Honda controlled any young rider who emerged in motorcycling, but its market dominance has now swung to the side of MotoGP rival KTM and, to a lesser extent Ducati. Could this development have significant ramifications for the future?
Why Marc Marquez has to reinvent himself as a MotoGP rider
Marc Marquez's romp to victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas led many to believe the 'old' pre-injury Honda rider was close to coming back to his full powers. However, the 'old' Marquez will probably never exist again and instead he'll have to adapt to his new reality to return to title-winning ways in 2022
The Marquez self-preservation that fulfilled a COTA MotoGP “dream”
Marc Marquez scorched to his seventh Circuit of the Americas victory in MotoGP last Sunday with a display reminiscent of his pre-injury form. However, his path to the win across the weekend was in keeping with the current reality of his physical limitations, with self-preservation on Saturday key to his Sunday success
How Ducati has developed MotoGP's most versatile bike
His third place at Misano made Enea Bastianini the fifth different Ducati-mounted rider to score a podium in 2021. Amid a season that has seen one rider amass the bulk of Yamaha and Honda's success, the Ducati's versatility makes for a potent weapon, but the contribution of a former leading light shouldn't be forgotten
The next steps in the rebuilding of a stalled MotoGP career
Maverick Vinales’ early debut with Aprilia has been one of the most interesting plots of the recent MotoGP rounds. The results may not look standout on paper, but a closer inspection reveals just how much progress Vinales has truly made in understanding a bike that has taken him well out of his “comfort zone”
