Indonesia’s long wait to host the MotoGP event is likely to be extended. The newly-built highway and street circuit on the island of Lombok was set to host the MotoGP event in 2021, but it has been postponed due to the pandemic and is now scheduled for March 2022.
The Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in 2019 signed a three-year deal with MotoGP owner Dorna Sports to host races from 2021 to 2023. The circuit that was scheduled to host the event is still under construction.
The Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that will be part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship. Only two editions of the Grand Prix have been held, in 1996 and 1997; both were held at Sentul International Circuit, Bogor, West Java.
As a response to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, this race was dropped from the 1998 calendar. In 2019, it was announced that the Indonesian GP will return in 2021 and will be held at the now under-construction Mandalika Street Circuit which will be located inside the under-construction Mandalika Resort Area in Central Lombok Regency. The circuit will be the first street circuit in Grand Prix Motorcycle Championship since 1977.
In a press release, Dorna said: “Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, all parties involved agreed to hold the first MotoGP World Championship Grand Prix at the track in the first part of the 2022 season, in principle during March.”
The new season of the MotoGP World Championship started on March 28. Both the races were held in Qatar. The next race is scheduled for April 18 at the Grande Prémio 888 de Portugal. Johann Zarco of Ducati is currently leading the overall standings with 40 points. Fabio Quartararo and Maverik Vinales of Yamaha share second place with 36 points each.