Sentul prepares for motorcycling grand prix
Sentul prepares for motorcycling grand prix
JAKARTA (JP): The Sentul circuit in Bogor, West Java is
gearing up for the world motorcycling championship races planned
for April 5 to April 7 with an improvement project on safety
facilities.
Director general of the circuit management PT Sarana
Sirkuitindo, Tinton Suprapto, told a press conference here
yesterday that the company has earmarked around Rp 2 billion
(US$873,000) to enlarge the safety gravel at seven curves along
the 3.965-kilometer track.
"The safety gravel will be extended to at least a 120 degree
angle in order to give a falling rider wider space to survive,"
Tinton said.
A movable concrete fence will also be built around the track.
"The circuit is now re-designed for a Formula One auto racing
championship," Tinton said.
The Indonesian motorcycling GP championship, the first of its
kind to be held here, is the second of 15 races included in the
calendar of world motor body FIM this season. The series kicks
off at the Shah Alam circuit, Malaysia a week before the
championship at Sentul.
Tinton refused to disclose the funds needed to stage the world
races. "We received a special price from the promoter of the
championship. But I'm afraid organizers of the other races will
ask for the same price if I let the cat out of the bag.
"The races here cost us more than one million dollars," Tinton
said.
He said the improvement project, requested by the
International Road Racing Track Association (IRTA), will be
completed by the end of this month.
IRTA is the organization which supplies riders for the world
championship series. Twenty three 500cc riders, 25 riders in the
250cc division and 24 in the 125cc class have been listed to take
part in the world series this season.
IRTA secretary general Mike Trimby, who also spoke at the
conference, said that in terms of track condition and safety
facilities, Sentul is "one of the best circuits in the world."
Trimby said the adjustment project was urgent since riders
from nine world teams will make private testing on the track from
Feb. 6 to Feb. 8.
Organizers of the Indonesian motorcycling championship expect
80,000 people to watch the three races. They will distribute
tickets costing between Rp 20,000 and Rp 1 million (between $8.7
and $436.7) throughout the country.
They said 105 TV stations from all over the world will
broadcast the races live. (amd)