Saturday, 12 February 2022 – 16:45 WIB
VIVA – MotoGP riders expressed mixed impressions after testing out the Mandalika Circuit for the first time when the track on the island of Lombok became a three-day pre-season test arena this weekend.
Some admire and admire the layout of the 4.3km circuit, but their driving experience was disrupted by dirty track conditions on the first day of testing.
“I think this circuit has its own characteristics, different from other tracks,” said Pol Espargaro who appeared fastest on the first day, Friday 11 February 2022.
“On the backstraight there are areas with rapid changes in direction which are very physically demanding, but also the bike has to react quickly to changes in direction.
“At the same time stability is needed because there are a lot of fast corners here,” said the Repsol Honda rider.
“On the first day, the track was not clean enough to be fast, I think there are still about two seconds that can be improved if the track is really clean.”
Meanwhile, last season’s world champion Fabio Quartararo admitted that the Mandalika Circuit had little resemblance to other tracks.
