REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Minister of State Owned Enterprises (BUMN) of the Republic of Indonesia Erick Thohir praised the increase in the number of spectators at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2023 held Sunday (15/10/2023) at Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). In the second year of the prestigious motor racing event, the total attendance over the three days since Friday's practice session (10/13/2023) reached 102,929 people. The largest number occurred on race day which reached 73,129 spectators.

“I appreciate that the number of MotoGP spectators in 2033 has increased compared to last year. This means that the market for the races entering the world calendar is beginning to be mapped. Starting from the market of spectators who come from Jakarta, or East Java, even from Bali and Lombok themselves. This should be a study for Mandalika GP managers so that in the coming years the improvement continues to occur,” said Erick Thohir who represented President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo at Mandalika Circuit to hand over the winner's trophy, Sunday (15/10/2023).

The 2023 MotoGP race at the Mandalika Circuit was won by Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia. He finished faster than Maverick Vinales who finished runner-up and Fabio Quartararo on the third podium.

According to the racers' confessions, the management of this year's 15th series race is much better than last year's which was the first MotoGP on the 4,313-kilometre circuit. At the inaugural Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia in 2022, the number of spectators was recorded as 102,801 spectators

“Therefore, I continue to encourage the managers of this MotoGP race to present events other than motor races. Additional activities will not only bring in the audience, but with the presence of MSME exhibitions or similar, it increases the attractiveness of foreign and local tourists in providing economic impact and multiplier effect for the surrounding communities,” explains Erick.

Erick also added that he welcomed the collaboration and synergies made by state-owned companies, such as Injourney, ITDC, Pertamina, and other supporting SOEs so that this year's MotoGP race could go well.

“The development and improvement of the infrastructure has been carried out very carefully by the SOEs involved so that the MotoGP will be much better this time. I am optimistic that MotoGP Mandalika 2023 will provide a wider multiplier effect. If last year the national economic impact reached Rp 3.57 trillion from West Nusa Tenggara, then Rp 300 billion from Jakarta, and Rp 626.3 billion in some other regions, then the amount should increase this year,” said Erick.

This year, the Mandalika Circuit recorded a number of improvements. Ranging from track repair, marshal readiness, medical centre, paddock facilities, grandstand, to inner-circuit. One is by starting the repainting of the kerb and the run-off area of the circuit. Of the total area of 27,380 m2, repainting has reached approximately 22,000 m2. Sensors for the new track-limit area were also installed at the request of the International Motosports Federation (FIM), as well as a timing system.

ITDC as the manager of KEK Mandalika has also made improvements to the area such as the construction and improvement of the area's road infrastructure along 35 km, parking pockets with a capacity of 7,888 vehicles (cars and motorcycles), gate area, and the construction of Kuta Lane as a new landmark of the area which is one of the favorite spots for tourists connecting Mandalika Bazaar to Kuta Beach Park (KBP) area.

Not only that, ITDC has also prepared the basic infrastructure of the area such as; regional road access, sidewalks, Public Road Lighting (PJU), parking areas, utility networks (electricity, clean water and internet), Bazaar The Mandalika which is an area of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), traffic management, security systems, fire area management, social handling and animal control, to waste management and transportation provision.