Veda Ega Goes Global, But Will Yogyakarta Get a Circuit?
Veda Ega Pratama, a young rider from Gunungkidul, has successfully broken into the world racing stage. Yet to this day, the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) still has no permanent circuit to support the development of riders.
Responding to this, the Acting CEO of InJourney Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ahmad Fajar, said the company currently has no plans to build a circuit in Jogja.
“At the moment we have no plans in that direction. We are making use of existing assets within the InJourney Group, for example in airport areas. If there is indeed an assignment from InJourney or the government, it could certainly be considered. But for now there are no plans to build in other regions,” Fajar said when met at the Keraton Jogja complex on Sunday (19/7/2026).
According to Fajar, proposals to build a circuit in a region, including DIY, fall under the authority of the regional government. ITDC would only become involved if it received an official assignment to develop such an area.
“But we leave that to the provincial government or the local regional government. So we have no plans to build elsewhere, unless there is an assignment from InJourney or ITDC, that’s how it is,” he asserted.
He also touched on the construction of the Mandalika Circuit, which was carried out as part of the development of the Mandalika tourism area in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
“The circuit was indeed built on land where we, ITDC, own the 1,200-hectare Mandalika area. Why is there a circuit there? Because we want to develop the region,” he said.
Fajar explained that before its development, NTB was one of the regions with high poverty levels. The presence of the Mandalika Circuit and MotoGP, he said, has raised the region’s profile while strengthening Indonesia’s branding in the eyes of the world.
“In the past, when Indonesians went abroad and were asked where they came from, people only knew Bali. Now many recognise Mandalika because of MotoGP. That has become part of Indonesia’s branding too,” he explained.
Fajar said ITDC continues to support Veda’s career journey. After meeting Sri Sultan HB X, Veda is scheduled to train at the Mandalika Circuit before returning to Europe to continue racing.
“Starting tomorrow they depart from Jogja to train first at the Mandalika Circuit, then return to the United Kingdom, continue to Spain, and in October they will race again at Mandalika,” he said.