From Mandalika to the World: NTB Marshals Earn International Racing Opportunities

MATARAM, Lombokpedia.id – The MotoGP Mandalika is not only a stage for the world’s top riders to battle it out on the track. It is also opening doors for local talent to gain experience, build confidence and earn opportunities on the international stage.

Several marshals from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) who began their careers at the Mandalika circuit are now being trusted to work at international racing events outside Indonesia.

NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal met with four of the local marshals at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Kuta Mandalika, Central Lombok, on Tuesday (Oct. 6, 2026).

They were Vincent Wijaya from Mataram and Samsuri Ramdan, Doni Indrawan and Irdiansyah Yusuf from Central Lombok.

During the meeting, Iqbal listened to their stories, from their first opportunities to work as marshals at Mandalika to their subsequent involvement in international racing events.

For Iqbal, their journey shows how working at a world-class event can become a valuable learning experience and a pathway for local talent to develop their skills.

“In the past, even painting the circuit had to be done by foreigners. Now it is 100 percent local. Local Lombok marshals used to be a minority. But after they were given the opportunity, they are now being hired at other circuits and international events,” Iqbal said.

Vincent is one example.

After gaining experience as a marshal at the MotoGP Mandalika, he was later trusted to work as a marshal at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. He also took part in the Formula E event in Jakarta.

According to Iqbal, their experience demonstrates that people from NTB can meet international standards when they are given the space, trust and opportunity to learn directly through world-class events.

A similar transformation can be seen among the event volunteers.

For the first time, all volunteers involved in the MotoGP event are young people from NTB.

Iqbal praised their confidence and communication skills, saying that they represent the face of NTB when welcoming visitors from different countries.

“I am proud to see our young people becoming more confident. They are willing to step forward and they can speak English. My message is simple: hospitality starts with a smile. So make sure you always smile,” he said.

MotoGP 2026 Chairman and ITDC Operations Director Troy Reza Warokka said the growing involvement of local human resources was the result of continuous training and talent development aimed at meeting international event standards.

“This is part of our vision of taking NTB to the world. With the support of the governor, we provide training and development so that our people can meet international standards. At present, 100 percent of the volunteers and marshals are from NTB. Thank you for the governor’s support,” Troy said.

For Iqbal, the growing involvement of local talent is an important part of measuring the long-term benefits of MotoGP for NTB.

The impact of a global sporting event, he said, should not be measured only by the number of spectators, hotel occupancy rates or the economic transactions generated during the few days of the event.

There are longer-lasting benefits: knowledge, experience, work discipline, professional networks and familiarity with international standards that local people can continue to use long after the event is over.

“MotoGP is not just about the crowds coming and going. Its benefits should not be measured only by the number of spectators, full hotels or transactions during the event. We should also look at the experience, work discipline, networks and international standards acquired by the people of NTB,” he said.

The journey of these marshals shows that Mandalika is beginning to produce something beyond the event itself.

The circuit has become a learning ground where local people can gain experience, build professional skills and earn the trust needed to work on a wider stage.

Ultimately, the success of MotoGP for NTB may not only be visible while the race is underway, but also in what continues to grow after the engines fall silent.

When local marshals who started their journey at Mandalika are later trusted to work at other international circuits and racing events, their experience has turned into real professional capacity.

And perhaps that is one of the most important legacies of MotoGP in Mandalika: creating a pathway for NTB’s people not only to become part of the global stage at home, but also to carry their names, skills and experience to the world beyond Lombok. (red2)