The governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) said the province is still on track to host the world-class MotoGP motorcycle racing event in 2021, with construction set to finish next June.

“At this time, construction for Mandalika Circuit as a whole has reached more than 40 percent progress and we are targeting developments to conclude in June 2021 next year,” NTB Governor Zulkieflimansyah said.

It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic, which spurred additional health protocols, has only slightly affected construction. Zulkieflimansyah seems optimistic that NTB will be able to host MotoGP in Indonesia in October 2021.

There will also be constructed for the international airport in Lombok, the governor said, as well as road construction to connect the airport directly to Mandalika, where the street circuit for the racing event is located.

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Zulkieflimansyah says MotoGP would help boost the country’s image as a destination for sports tourism, attract more tourists as a whole, and create a multiplier effect, such as more investment and thousands of job creation, among other things.  

“We are optimistic that the benefits will help the government in pushing economic growth and revive the national tourism industry after the pandemic,” he said. Mandalika Circuit is a street circuit built-in Mandalika, a business area located south of Lombok.

Indonesia signed a deal with Dorna Sports ⁠— the exclusive commercial and television rights holder for MotoGP ⁠— earlier last year to host the world-class motorcycling races for five years. The first race is set to take place in 2021 in Lombok under the organizing of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA), a business unit of state-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). In April, the contract was reportedly extended for another five years.