MotoGP Stars Arrive in Lombok Ahead of Mandalika 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Lombok is beginning to feel the buzz of MotoGP as riders and crew members for the 2026 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia touch down at Lombok International Airport, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

“Today several riders and team crews for MotoGP Indonesia have started arriving,” said Ananda Mikola, President Director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA), on Monday, October 5, 2026, in Central Lombok, as quoted by Antara.

Arrivals are being staggered across multiple groups, with three clusters recorded on Monday alone -- covering competitors from MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. “Today we had three groups, around 12 riders. By tomorrow night, all riders and crews will be here,” Mikola explained.

Among those already in Lombok are reigning champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, while Marc Marquez is scheduled to transit through Jakarta before reaching Lombok on Tuesday evening. Alongside the riders, cargo flights from Japan have begun delivering MotoGP logistics to support the event.

NTB’s Head of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ahmad Nur Aulia, confirmed that three charter flights from Narita International Airport are bringing the bulk of the paddock. “Most riders are set to arrive on October 5, with others following on October 6–7,” he said.

Fans will also get a chance to greet their heroes during a Rider Parade in Mataram on Wednesday, October 7. The lineup includes Marc Marquez, Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi, Fermin Aldeguer, Brad Binder, Maximo Quiles, Mario Aji, and Indonesia’s own Veda Pratama.

The arrivals mark the start of an electrifying week in Lombok, offering supporters a rare opportunity to see the world’s top riders up close before they battle it out at the Mandalika Circuit.

The 2026 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika Circuit runs from Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11, with the main MotoGP race scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. local time. ***