JAKARTA —
Indonesia hosts its first motorcycle grand
prix in 25 years on Sunday, confident that concerns surrounding the new track
will be forgotten once racing begins in front of a sell-out crowd.
اضافة اعلان
The archipelago nation of 270 million people is motorbike
mad — many get around on two wheels — and there is a palpable sense of
excitement at the prospect of world-class racing returning.
Even President Joko Widodo is a fan and tried out the
Mandalika International Street Circuit when he officially opened it in
November, having a go on a custom-made green Kawasaki bike.
Sunday's race is the second stop on the
2022 MotoGP calendar
after the opening race in Qatar two weeks ago, won by Enea Bastianini of Italy.
The new 4.3km circuit hugs the white-sanded coastline on the
island of Lombok, which wants to rival its better-known neighbor, Bali, as a
tropical holiday destination. The track complex is part of those ambitions.
There is great anticipation, but also angst and anger — the
circuit is part of a mega-tourism infrastructure project denounced by the
UN over the eviction of families. Some refused to leave and were still encamped at
the track in November.
Track concerns
When the track hosted a World Superbike race that same month
there were concerns about the track surface.
Riders during MotoGP testing in February made similar
complaints, saying the track was dirty and breaking up dangerously, with debris
and stones flying into them like bullets.
Turn one was of particular concern.
World champion Fabio Quartararo reportedly called it "a total disaster".
Organizers dismissed those fears as teething problems,
carried out urgent resurfacing in places, and are confident the track is now in
tip-top condition.
"The condition that must be improved was the peeling
asphalt, which created no grip for the racers," Cahyadi Wanda,
vice-president of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association, told AFP.
"This work was completed on March 9. All of that work
was 100 percent complete."
Wikanto Arungbudoyo, a MotoGP fanatic, is keeping his
fingers crossed.
"I am eager to know what the riders say about the
resurfaced track. Will we get positive feedback from them or maybe, God forbid,
the problem gets worse?
"Indonesia is very much capable of holding a grand prix
here," he added.
The country hosted motorcycle grand prix in 1996 and 1997
near the capital Jakarta, but its ambitions of becoming a mainstay of the sport
were torpedoed by the
Asian financial crisis.
For all the track's breathtaking scenery and the excitement,
there are other controversies.
Several villages were relocated — voluntarily or by force —
to make way for the circuit's construction.
Deadly quake, evictions
When AFP visited in November about 40 families, along with
their cattle and dogs, were still holding out in the center of the circuit
despite alleged intimidation to cede their land.
Environmentalists also question the wisdom of hosting
large-scale events on an island under threat from natural disasters.
Lombok is still struggling to rebuild following an
earthquake in 2018 which killed more than 500 people and caused extensive
damage.
Authorities hope the circuit complex will create thousands
of jobs and attract up to two million foreign visitors a year, as Indonesia
attempts to reinvigorate its crucial tourism industry which has suffered badly
in the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 restrictions mean there will not be many
international visitors this time and tickets are too expensive for local
people.
But underlining the excitement, all 63,000 tickets for
Sunday's race day have sold out and those who cannot afford a ticket will watch
from a nearby hill.
Yurson Hadi, head of Lombok's tourism agency, said that many
hotels — among them five-star ones — were also all booked up.
"Hopefully this event will be a good start for tourism
recovery in Lombok and also Indonesia," he said.
The MotoGP racers will first take to the track on Friday for
two free practice sessions. On Saturday there will be a final practice session
and qualifying to decide pole position for Sunday's race, which begins at 3pm
(0700 GMT).
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