Indonesia to build infrastructure to support MotoGP

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Friday that central government would build several infrastructures to support Lombok in hosting MotoGP race from 2021.

Speaking in his visit to West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province capital of Mataram in Lombok Island, the president said the planned infrastructures projects to support MotoGP event are seaport improvement, road that linking the airport with the circuit and extension of runway in Lombok international airport.

"We will start those projects this year, expectedly to complete next year," he said.

To carry out the projects as soon as possible, he said that he has ordered public works and transportation ministers to do so.

Adding the facility to accommodate the international racing event, NTB provincial government also planned to build a hospital near the circuit complex.

Related to the MotoGP event in Lombok, the president has met with CEO of MotoGP organizer Dorna, Carmelo Ezpelata, in Bogor Presidential Palace on March 11.

During the meeting, the president has said that Lombok is affirmatively ready to host the world-class prestigious motorbike racing by the time the race is held there.

Ezpelata had visited the circuit site in Lombok in November last year.

In January Indonesia won a contract to host MotoGP in 3 years from 2021, brushing aside Brazil which also submitted a bidding to host series of MotoGP races during the period.

Projects to build the circuit in Lombok's tourism zone of Mandalika, are expected to commence in September this year and slated to complete next year.

Mandalika administrator, Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), has hired a French partner Vinci Construction to build the circuit.