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MotoGP operator soothes concerns over impact of natural disaster on Mandalika
Indonesia last hosted the MotoGP in 1997 in the Sentul International Circuit, Bogor, West Java.
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Speed up: Ongoing construction of the Mandalika Moto GP circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, as seen in early this year. The circuit is expected to be up and ready in 2021. (The Jakarta Post/Tribunnews)
T
he fact that Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is prone to earthquakes has not discouraged MotoGP operator Dorna Sports from bringing the prestigious world motorcycle race back to Indonesia after a more than 20-year hiatus.
Indonesia last hosted the MotoGP in 1997 in the Sentul International Circuit, Bogor, West Java.
Dorna sporting director Carlos Ezpelata said the company was aware that Lombok was prone to natural disasters, but he assured that Dorna’s experience in managing races in other disaster-prone areas like Japan had prepared it for any scenario.
“We know that there was an earthquake in Lombok and the circuit was not affected. It’s something that we also had in Japan. We had to move one of our races some years ago,” he told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Saturday.
“Of course, we hope nothing will happen, but it is what it is, and if there’s some track damage and the promoter [needs] to be able to deal with it.”
Ezpelata was referring to Dorna’s experience dealing with the aftermath of a 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan in March 2011. The massive tremors triggered a tsunami off the coast of Fukushima prefecture and damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
The Japan MotoGP, which was initially scheduled for April that same year, was delayed to October because of the disaster.
