With the cancellation of the Kazakhstan GP after it was rescheduled to the same dates as the also canceled India GP, Misano has been chosen to fill the dates from September 20 to 22 on the MotoGP calendar. It was a cost-effective solution, as it involves two consecutive rounds at the same location, but it also creates logistical challenges.
Both India and Kazakhstan were geographically closer to the next GP in Indonesia. Therefore, the logistics of transporting from Misano to Mandalika are being meticulously planned and must be flawless.
According to Motorsport.com, the task is being managed by Dorna’s Director of Operations, Carles Jorba, who has extensive experience in such moves, and a well-trained team. Everything will begin moving shortly after the Emilia Romagna GP ends (which is an hour earlier than usual).
Jorba explained: ‘We didn’t want to compromise the enjoyment of the public. Loading a truck takes about an hour, and then we will have another six hours on the road to Malpensa Airport in Milan. We’ve been talking to the local authorities for weeks, who have arranged the sequence in which they will receive the containers. Everything must be inspected before it goes on the plane’.
According to the Director of Operations, since last year, the transport containers must be customized to fit the aircraft used – shortening the preparation time to about six hours, which is half of what it used to be. This makes the process more efficient and predictable, with the knowledge that all Moto2 and Moto3 equipment requires only one plane.
If the schedule is met, the cargo is expected to start arriving in Lombok by Tuesday morning, with the last load arriving by mid-afternoon the following day, and then transported by road to the Mandalika circuit.