Jokowi: Private Sector to Fund Sentul Circuit in Hosting MotoGP

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In between his work visit to Bogor this morning, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) lapped the Sentul International Circuit and announced the government`s support to hold a MotoGP race in 2021.

President Jokowi was accompanied by Sentul Circuit Director Tinton Soeprapto and Circuit Manager Ananda Mikola. “Both men asked for my approval and not any [financial] support,” said the seventh Indonesian President today, March 6.

According to the president, the government reasons that the MotoGP race will have positive impacts on Indonesia’s automotive and tourism industry. Jokowi also hopes that circuit managements would totally revamp the track that hosted a MotoGP championship race back in 1997.

Jokowi said that the government will not financially back Sentul’s track upgrade since it is privately owned. “This is in the private sector area. The renovation and upgrade will come from the private sector.”

Ananda claimed that Sentul Circuit’s infrastructure is ready to host a MotoGP race with minor fixing and adjustments in several spots.

However, based on Tempo’s observation, the paint in several sections at the main grandstand was starting to fade and peel off. The starting grids were also beginning to be indistinguishable with the asphalt that is also damaged and uneven in several locations throughout the track.

The Sentul International Circuit was actually scheduled to hold a MotoGP race in 2017 but was canceled because its governing body, FIM, considered the track had not met the standards. 

AHMAD FAIZ