The Mandalika circuit is currently experiencing heavy rainfall, which makes the route impassable for competition.
It had already threatened Race 1 of the Supersport just two hours ago, but the rain has just increased in intensity (if not more) in Indonesia, forcing the Race Direction to, for the moment, delayed the start of the first event of the Superbike category.
You only have to see the images to be convinced of the impossibility for the pilots to risk taking to the track, both due to the insufficient drainage of the water and the very low visibility. Not very surprising knowing that the monsoon period begins in November in Southeast Asia...
For the moment, there is no question of canceling Race 1 of the championship for motorcycles derived from the series, but a decision must be made regarding the possible postponement of the event until tomorrow. In this sense, the organizers must decide at 9 a.m. Paris time to decide on a possible postponement of the event to Sunday.
📋RACE DIRECTION INFO:#WorldSBK Race 1 new schedule to be decided at 16:00 LT – International Program Feed to resume accordingly if weather conditions allow for racing#WorldSBK
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) November 20, 2021
A very restricted shooting window
We remind you here that there is a seven-hour time difference between Indonesia and France, which means that the decision will be made on site at 16 p.m. local. Knowing that sunset occurs around 18 p.m., this only leaves a little over an hour for the weather conditions to improve, which seems unlikely in such a short period of time given the a real cataract that falls on Mandalika.
Live 📡: #IDNWorldSBK Race 1 build up 🔥 Will we see a #WorldSBK Champion crowned? 👀 Find out here 👉 https://t.co/Y8LaNKl782 With #VideoPasshttps://t.co/HqQ2Rao4HH
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) November 20, 2021
It should also be noted that Race 1 can be potentially decisive for the award of the title in the category: it is enough for the championship leader, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, to score eight points more than his opponent Jonathan Rea, to be crowned from the first event of the weekend.
Circumstances which should, once again, lead the Race Direction to take no risks and favor patience and the wait for more lenient conditions to allow the two belligerents to compete for the title in a decent manner.
Live 📡: #WorldSBK Race 1 delay ⚠️ Heavy rain has caused zero visibility. Watch live as the riders await for the signal to head out ☔️https://t.co/gw16BeQAhW
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) November 20, 2021
