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)