Team HRC arrives in Indonesia for the WorldSBK grand finale
Mandalika International Street CircuitThe all new Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia will lift the curtain on the final round of the 2021 Superbike World Championship this weekend.
Team HRC and its factory riders Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam are already on site, keen to get out and explore this brand-new facility which is an unknown for the entire Superbike field.
This weekend’s WorldSBK finale is in fact the very first international event to be staged at the Indonesian circuit. Located in the Mandalika area of the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, the track measures 4.3 km in length. It features a total of seventeen turns, namely six left-handers and eleven right-handers.
After a tough penultimate round in Argentina, Bautista and Haslam are intent on rounding out this 2021 season on a high, before they both move on to pastures new in 2022.
Weekend schedule (CET +7):
Friday
11.00 – 11.45 – SBK Timed Practice 1
15.00 – 15.45 – SBK Timed Practice 2
Saturday
9.00 – 9.30 – SBK Free Practice
11.10 – 11.25 – Superpole
15.00 – SBK Race 1
Sunday
9.00 – 9.15 – SBK Warm-up
11.00 – SBK Superpole race
15.00 – SBK Race 2
“I am very excited for the last race of the year. It’s been around a month since the last round, which is a bit too long really, but I’ve had chance to spend some time with my family after a very intense period this summer. I've also been able to train well in recent weeks in preparation for a track that is new to everyone. I’m looking forward to going to Indonesia because there is a great passion for our sport there and a lot of fans. It is always exciting to discover a new track. I have seen some videos and it looks to be a great new track. I think it's a good opportunity to enjoy the end of the season. On Friday we will focus on finding our references, both in terms of the riding and technically speaking, and we’ll need to work quickly so that we’re as prepared as possible for the races. I would like to finish the season with a good result for Honda so hopefully we can be fast and competitive in Indonesia.”
“I’m really looking forward to Indonesia, for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a new track for everyone, which makes things exciting. It’s also the last round of the championship of course, as well as my final event with Honda. The new circuit looks like a fantastic place so I hope we can all enjoy it, and from what I’ve seen, I think the Honda might go well there too, around what is a more flowing layout. I’ve recently had shoulder surgery, so fingers crossed I’m in good shape as it would be really great to bid farewell to 2021 in a positive fashion, finishing the season on a high.”