The brand new circuit of Mandalika, on the island of Lombok in Indonesia, has already caused a lot of ink to flow, whether through the speed of its construction or certain controversies which have somewhat tarnished the idyllic image of a concept combining modernity, luxury and heavenly place.
This has aroused the attention of certain people concerned by the WSBK final who, contrary to what one might believe, are not only concerned about the competition but are also concerned about the conditions, technical and human, in which it- this is happening.
This is why our correspondent, a member of a well-known team, took the time to contact and then rub shoulders with local residents to understand the real repercussions of this new route on local life.
Here is a summary of his comments in which we clearly see that you cannot build a circuit like that without completely upsetting an entire region.
GOOD ? Wrong ? Everyone will see noon at their door…
« Before coming, we had some questions about the conditions in which this weekend would take place because of the information released in the press. For our part, we got in touch with a local association to give them computers to help children confined during Covid. We didn't communicate about it but we considered that it was the least we could do not to arrive with our hands in our pockets. What also bothered us was that there were articles stating that people had been expelled in order to build the circuit, without having received compensation. So we investigated this with the locals and if there is no smoke without fire, the truth is still different. Basically, five or six years ago, when the decision was made to build the circuit, the State bought the land and let the residents continue to live on site until the work began. In the meantime, other residents and businesses have come to settle in with the agreement of the State, without paying rent on the condition of leaving when the State requests it. That was the deal: The first owners had been there for a long time and received their compensation and the new arrivals were not entitled to anything. Obviously, it is the latter who are currently demanding…
Concerning the Asia Talent Cup race which could not take place and which was postponed until this weekend, one of the marshals concerned, a mechanic who works in a local garage, explained to us that like many of his colleagues he had decided not to show up because the organization did not cover food, water or parasol. The race could therefore not be run. The organizer has had a blast and everything should be resolved by this weekend. »
The place :
« The locals are all really happy to have this circuit despite the upheavals caused to the existing one. They are delighted with the planned tourism, with Superbike but also MotoGP, because it will be a lot of business for hotels and restaurants. There is going to be a very important economic boom for them, like a kind of Bali, it doesn't matter whether it's a motorcycle competition, a concert hall or a surfing competition. We are witnessing a radical change here, with local people suddenly confronted with an economic project of globalization.These are no longer the white sand beaches that there might have been a few years ago, as they are now full of algae and plastic. Basically, to summarize, it's a bit of a great economic project for the region, to the detriment of the ecology. What is a little shocking is that when you leave the circuit you immediately have children playing in the mud and you cannot fail to see a certain precariousness quite widespread at the very gates of the circuit. The contrast with the price of entry tickets is striking! Generally speaking, the contrast is impressive, between an economic project in full development and people begging at the exit of the circuit.
Many international hotels have opened, buildings are starting to sprout like mushrooms, and it looks like 70s tourism like the Costa Brava in Europe. It is this model which is reproduced 50 years later in South-East Asia. »
The circuit :
« Concerning the circuit itself, we are all a little disoriented, because we would have liked to have a little more transparency on the conditions in which it was carried out. The track is very beautiful, in terms of tarmac and layout. There is no problem except that they have destroyed the ecosystem by razing hills. The circuit seems totally capable of hosting an international race: The clearances are incredible and the tarmac is like billiards! The track is very interesting, and on the purely sporting side, you have the impression that it was made to accommodate F1 because it is so wide.
But the circuit was built in a few months. It's not finished yet. The materials used are not high-end. We have the impression that above the boxes there are stacked and rearranged containers. The boxes are quite narrow and not very high, the windows very thin, but the working conditions should be acceptable. It's still a circuit that gives the impression that it will be renovated very quickly, especially since we are on the Ring of Fire and there are a lot of earthquakes and violent weather phenomena. They did it in a hurry to host Superbike and MotoGP, probably on a temporary basis. »
