Mandalika: Only 15% crowd capacity expected for opening events

Covid restrictions mean fan numbers for the opening World Superbike and MotoGP events at Indonesia's Mandalika circuit are likely to be limited to around 15% of the maximum capacity.
Mandalika: Only 15% crowd capacity expected for opening events

Mandalika, the new Indonesian circuit that will host MotoGP and World Superbike events, has a capacity of 188,000 spectators.

But ongoing Covid restrictions - Reuters estimates Indonesia has vaccinated 18% of it's vast 270-million population - means only a fraction of that crowd capacity are likely to be present for the inaugural WorldSBK event in November and following MotoGP test (February) and race (March).

The Mandalika Grand Prix Association estimates 20-30,000 spectators or around 15% of the circuit's maximum will be possible for the upcoming rounds.

“We obviously want to have events that are safe for everyone, and that's basically our main goal. If we are allowed to have an audience at Mandalika, we will see a percentage of the total capacity. And because we sit in a very large open area and it's an open environment, to have 20-30,000 spectators per day means 15% of the capacity," said MGPA CEO Ricky Baheramsjah.

“It's a very small number, but the most important thing is to learn from other circuits that already hold motorsport events with large audiences to see what their guidelines and procedures are, so we can adapt them and we work with the government.

"We just don't want to waste the opportunity for spectators to come and watch a World Superbike event, or any future MotoGP event."

Happy Harinto, MGPA's Director of Strategy and Communication, added: "It is very difficult to hold a race like this [in the midst of a pandemic], but we are waiting for instructions from the government whether it is allowed with spectators or not.

"But what is clear, we from the MGPA are ready… the track has been completed, and the [remaining] facilities are just a matter of time.

"Our hope with World Superbike is that it can be a warm-up for future events such as the pre-season test and the Indonesian MotoGP itself."

The 188,000 Mandalika spectator capacity includes 50,000 grandstand seats.

The only non-European MotoGP events so far held since the start of the Covid pandemic are this year's season-opening Qatar rounds. The other 'flyaways' have all been cancelled with the exception of COTA in Texas, still planned for October 1-3, and Argentina, which officially remains 'postponed'.

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