Indonesia Waives 'Centered Quarantine' for MotoGP Mandalika Officials

TheIndonesia.co - The Indonesian COVID-19 Task Force waives quarantine for riders and officials who will take part in MotoGP Mandalika, saying the travel bubble scheme will provide necessary protection.

Head of health handling at the Task Force Alexander Ginting said the quarantine requirement will “overlap” with travel bubble that the Indonesian government and event organizers are planning to set up during the international event next month.

“If [we’re implementing] quarantine [through travel] bubble, then it means centered quarantine will not be carried out because they will overlap,” Ginting said on Sunday, February 6, as reported by Antara.

The Task Force issued circular letter No. 5/2022 on February 3 which regulates the bubble system in MotoGP Mandalika 2022 during COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter rules that officially-registered riders and officials for MotoGP bubble will enter the bubble location from Lombok International Airport’s international arrivals. These participating individuals are only allowed to interact with people within their respective bubble and to do activities in zones and facilities within the bubble area.

They are also required to be regularly tested every day and report any COVID-related symptoms to health officers.

Previously, CEO of Dorna Sports, which is MotoGP’s commercial rights holder, Carmelo Ezpelata expressed his disapproval over the mandatory quarantine in Indonesia for the race’s participants and crew.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno responded to the objection by saying that while the international event must continue, travel bubble mechanism that will be implemented to riders and officials is not to be questioned.

“There will be no special treatment for racers, crew, or officials that will participate in the world’s most prestigious bike race,” Uno said in a statement on January 20.

Indonesia is looking forward to host one the world’s biggest sporting events that is set to take place in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara, on March 18-20, after previously hosting the World Superbike (WSBK), also in Mandalika, in November last year.

Minister Uno said the event is expected to trigger local economic growth, mirroring WSBK that saw 20 to 25 percent increase in economic activities.