Praya, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - West Nusa Tenggara residents have expressed their enthusiasm about witnessing the Idemitsu Asian Talent Cup (IATC), the first racing event hosted at the Mandalika International Street Circuit, saying they find the competition exciting.
The Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) and the regional authority have distributed free entry tickets to West Nusa Tenggara residents for the IATC races, scheduled from November 12–14, 2021.
“Watching the race in the circuit is more exciting as the sensation is different from watching the race on TV, though I must endure the heat while sitting in the spectator stand,” Saeful, a Central Lombok resident, stated at the Mandalika Circuit on Saturday.
Saeful said he had purchased entry tickets for the IATC earlier as he wanted to check out the recently-completed racing circuit and watch international participants competing in the race.
The Central Lombok resident expressed his gratitude to the race committee and the regional authority for allowing public spectators during the race.
“We enjoy our experience of spectating the race, and we are also amazed while hearing the sound of the accelerating motorcycles,” Saeful said.
Mataram resident Ahmad, who said he utilized the opportunity to watch the race free of charge with his family, lauded the circuit design, saying he appreciated the chance to experience the Mandalika Circuit first-hand.
“The race track is very beautiful, and I can finally see the circuit with my own eyes,” Ahmad remarked.
He said the visit to Mandalika Circuit was his very first to any racing circuit in his life, adding that he had earlier only watched MotoGP races on television.
Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara Transportation Office head Moh Faozal said that residents visiting the Mandalika Circuit are required to adhere to the health protocols and log their visit on the COVID-19 mobile contact-tracing application PeduliLindungi before entering the circuit and retrieving their visitor card.
Residents can show their visitor card to use the free shuttle bus provided by the authority to reach the circuit and watch the race, he said.
"Residents are enthusiastic to spectate the race as we recorded around 4 thousand visitors today. We have prepared 104 bus units to serve visitors within the race circuit complex and 97 units to serve outbound routes for the WSBK race. We have allocated only 10 bus units for the IATC competition at present," Faozal stated.
