Dorna confirms Indonesian MotoGP, WorldSBK plans

Dorna has confirmed reports that the island of Lombok in Indonesia is on course to host both a MotoGP and WorldSBK round in 2021.

The deal has been made possible by a partnership between Dorna, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP and WorldSBK, and the ITDC, Indonesia’s largest tourism developer and operator.

The signing of the Promoters’ Contracts for the two world championships was conducted by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and ITDC CEO Abdulbar M. Mansoer, at Dorna's office in Madrid on the 28th January.

After many false dawns, the key Indonesian market is thus set to welcome MotoGP and WorldSBK to a brand new circuit to be built on the island of Lombok, near Bali (more specifically within the 'Mandalika', a large-scale tourism estate where a MotoGP fact-finding visit took place last October) from 2021.

Indonesia last hosted a MotoGP round in 1997, at Sentul, but has spent several years in search of a venue that would meet modern standards. 

"What a unique project this will be, having an urban, world class circuit in a country where MotoGP has such a huge following," Ezpeleta said.

"Indonesia is a key market for us with a considerable percentage of motorsport fans living here and the MotoGP atmosphere will be even stronger once the circuit is complete.

"Also, by including Lombok to the WorldSBK calendar makes this offer more attractive for local fans having two World Class events in the area during the year.”

CEO of ITDC, Mr. Abdulbar M. Mansoer added: “We are very excited to have partnered up with Dorna and are delighted to be able to bring world-class motorsport events to Indonesia and the Mandalika in Lombok together.”

The initial contracts are rumoured to be for three years.