Huge excitement for WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team ahead of inaugural GP in Mandalika
Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder are looking forward to return to Indonesia following a first fruitful test.
25 years after the World Championship held a Grand Prix in Indonesia, the MotoGP will be back this weekend for the first Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika Circuit in Lombok. In order to get to know the brand-new venue, WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team’s Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder together with the rest of the premier class field, already experienced a three days’ test over four weeks ago with productive conclusions, although the circuit responsible have been obliged to improve the surface of the 4.3-kilometer track ahead of this weekend.
Following a rather difficult opening to the season just over one week ago, Dovizioso is eager to further fine-tune his sensations aboard his Yamaha YZR-M1 this weekend. He already had a good feeling during the test in Mandalika and immediately liked the new layout. He travels to Indonesia with two World Championship points in his pocket and the aim to score even more during this second Grand Prix of 2022.
Binder found the first laps at the brand-new track in Indonesia tricky as he was still adapting to the big bike following his jump from Moto3 to MotoGP. Yet, he went faster with each run throughout the official test and also proved his abilities at the Qatar GP, his first ever premier class race, where he has been fighting for the top rookie spot and lost out on the points by just 0.012 seconds. Knowing the circuit already on his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine, will make proceedings speed up this time.
The race week starts already on Wednesday this time with an impressive bike parade through the center of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, headed by the Indonesian President himself and followed by nearly 20 MotoGP riders, including Dovizioso and Binder, proudly presenting the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team. Meanwhile, track action in Mandalika kicks off on Friday at 10:50 local time (3:50 CET) with FP1.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“After a not so easy first round in Qatar, we really aim to do a stronger result in Indonesia and will try to avoid the mistakes we did at the first Grand Prix. The Mandalika Circuit is a new track for everybody, on top there will be a new asphalt and a new tyre compared to what we had during the test there, so it’s going to be a strange race. Anyway, it’s a very nice track, so I’m looking forward to race there!”
DARRYN BINDER
“I’m really excited to get to Indonesia now. I definitely enjoyed the test there, so it’s very nice coming to a track, where I have done a couple of laps on a MotoGP bike already. I’m super excited about that! I’m quite happy about how things went in Qatar, which makes me even more motivated to get another race under my belt. I’ll just try to pick up where I left off in the race in Qatar, take everything I learned and put it to action. I’ll try to have a good weekend in Mandalika and hope the track conditions there are better than during the test.”
Razlan Razali, Founder and Team Principal WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
“In just a few days the wheels will turn for the inaugural Grand Prix in Lombok. It’s been 25 years since the Motorcycle World Championship has been racing in Indonesia, probably the biggest market in South-East Asia and the fourth most populated country in the world. The interest in MotoGP is crazy there, what we already experienced during the test. Of course, the whole race weekend starts already on Wednesday with the pre-event in Jakarta with a parade to be led by the President of Indonesia in central Jakarta involving 20 high-class riders. I think this is exactly the right welcome for MotoGP.”
“With regards to our riders, we had a decent test at the Mandalika Circuit a couple of weeks ago. I think with the resurfaced asphalt, we have to re-explore everything during Free Practice one on Friday. Anyway, huge congratulations in advance for Indonesia to host MotoGP again for the first time in 25 years. We look forward to come over there and it’s definitely going to be exciting!”
Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
“Following the test in Mandalika, we have been quite pleased. The track fits our bike pretty good and also both riders like the layout, so this is a nice sign. Of course, we are eager to see how they were able to change the asphalt and how everything will work, so that the riders can actually fight with each other, which was our main issue during the test. To come to Indonesia with all the things we need to do – PCR tests, forms and applications – is already a challenge itself. It’s an effort, so let’s see how all of that works out, as soon as we arrive, I’m sure, everything will be fine. Anyway, we are looking forward to that second round of 2022!”
