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KOMPAS.com – CEO of Dorna Sports Carmelo Ezpeleta recently spoke about the work on re-paving the Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, Indonesia.
This was stated by Ezpeleta in an exclusive interview with Italian Motorsport journalist Matteo Nugnes, in Milan, Italy. The article was published on Wednesday (23/2/2022) Italian time.
The interview discussed various topics, one of which was about asphalt at the Mandalika Circuit. Nugnes asked why the same problem did not occur during the World Superbike (WSBK) event on 19-21 November 2021.
Just as British journalist Simon Patterson has reviewed, Ezpeleta implies that there is a power difference between MotoGP bikes and WSBK bikes.
“This shows the power of the MotoGP bike to destroy asphalt if it is not done properly,” said Ezpeleta.
“Obviously there were errors in the asphalt design in some parts of the circuit but we tried to overcome them by re-paving before the race on March 20. We did everything we could.”
Read also: Asphalt of the Mandalika Circuit is called not according to specifications, how will the Indonesian MotoGP continue?
The issue of asphalt at the Mandalika Circuit was revealed after the pre-season test on February 11-13. At that time, the Indonesian MotoGP event was only less than five weeks away.
The Indonesian MotoGP series is scheduled to take place on March 18-20. According to Ezpeleta, re-paving in a short time is actually not the best solution.
However, Dorna listened to the riders’ input.
Dorna decided it needed to be re-paved rather than leaving the track as it was during the February 11-13 pre-season test.
“We have discussed it with the highest authorities in Indonesia who assured us that the issue will be considered a state problem and they are doing their best,” said Ezpeleta.
MotoGP or MX ? ???????? pic.twitter.com/pFROIyzjVz
— Fabio Quartararo (@FabioQ20) February 24, 2022
Shortly after the Mandalika asphalt problem after the pre-season test, the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) as the promoter of the Indonesian MotoGP, immediately responded quickly.
The re-paving will be carried out from bend 17 to bend 5 and involve PT Pembangunan Perumahan as the construction contractor.
Based on the update on Thursday (24/2/2022), the re-paving of the Mandalika Circuit has entered the initial stage of peeling asphalt.
“So, what we did first was peel off the topmost asphalt, approximately 4 centimeters thick,” said PT PP Director Novel Arsyad in a virtual press conference, Wednesday (16/2/2022).
Also read: Fast Movement, Repavement of the Mandalika Circuit is Targeted to be Completed on Time
“After that, we immediately cleaned it for us to re-pave,” said Novel Arsyad.
MGPA targets the re-paving to be completed on March 10, aka one week before the Mandalika MotoGP starts.
Editor’s Note: The title and parts of this manuscript have been changed.
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