Mandalika Becomes VR46 Training Base as Rossi Oversees Trackday

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - The Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit has once again emerged as a key MotoGP activity hub ahead of the 2026 season, with riders from the VR46 Riders Academy using the Lombok venue as their primary training base prior to the official Sepang pre-season test. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi was also present, closely overseeing the two-day trackday programme.

Rossi’s presence underlined the strategic importance of Mandalika within VR46’s pre-season planning. Following a winter period dominated by physical training and flat-track riding, the Mandalika sessions represented a critical transition phase back to high-speed asphalt riding ahead of MotoGP’s first official test of 2026.

Superbike Trackday Ahead of Sepang

In the lead-up to the opening MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang, VR46 Academy riders conducted a structured trackday using Superbike machinery rather than MotoGP prototypes. This approach allows riders to regain race rhythm and confidence while minimising risk before entering the intensive testing phase in Malaysia.

Social media footage circulating from the Mandalika paddock showed Superbike machines bearing the race numbers of VR46 riders parked inside the garages. Bikes linked to Francesco Bagnaia on Ducati, Marco Bezzecchi now racing for Aprilia, Luca Marini with Honda, and Franco Morbidelli back on Ducati were all visible during the sessions.

Rossi was not merely an observer. He remained active in the paddock, engaging in detailed discussions with riders about riding approach, pace management, and physical readiness. On several occasions, Rossi also took to the circuit himself to assess track conditions and ensure the training programme unfolded as intended.

Climate Adaptation a Key Objective

As in previous seasons, the Mandalika trackday served a broader purpose than simply restoring speed. Climate adaptation formed a central pillar of the programme. High temperatures and humidity levels in Lombok closely mirror the conditions riders will face during the Sepang test and the early rounds of the MotoGP calendar.

Training in such an environment allows riders to recalibrate stamina management, concentration levels, and consistency after the off-season break. It also provides an early indicator of physical readiness before the more demanding official test schedule begins.

The Mandalika sessions were made possible through the continued support of VR46’s title partner Pertamina, whose involvement has helped integrate VR46’s rider development programme with MotoGP’s expanding Asian footprint. The collaboration further strengthens Mandalika’s role in pre-season preparation activities.

Bagnaia: Sepang Will Be Crucial

Francesco Bagnaia highlighted the importance of the Indonesian training phase as a key step toward the Sepang test, which will provide the first meaningful benchmark of competitive form ahead of the 2026 season.

“I’m very happy to have time in Indonesia to start riding again before the test in Malaysia, because Sepang will be very important,” Bagnaia said during the recent Ducati bike launch.

His comments reinforce the idea that Mandalika is not merely an optional stop, but a deliberate component of VR46’s preparation strategy aimed at ensuring riders arrive in Sepang physically and mentally ready.

Impact of MotoGP Concession Regulations

The significance of the Mandalika trackday has been amplified by changes to MotoGP’s concession regulations for 2026. With Honda moving up from concession category D to C, none of the VR46 Academy riders are eligible to take part in this week’s Sepang Shakedown test, scheduled for January 29–31.

As a result, non-official track activity such as the Mandalika trackday has taken on added importance. Without access to the Shakedown, VR46 riders must maximise alternative opportunities to re-adapt to asphalt riding and Asian conditions before the full field assembles for the official Sepang test.

Mandalika in VR46’s Long-Term Strategy

For VR46, Mandalika now occupies a strategic position within its long-term preparation framework. Beyond the circuit’s demanding layout, the combination of climate, surface characteristics, and logistical relevance makes it an ideal pre-season training base.

Rossi’s direct involvement sends a clear message that the programme is being executed collectively, with hands-on oversight from the academy’s founder. For Indonesia, the continued use of Mandalika as a VR46 training venue reinforces its status not only as a MotoGP race host, but as an active participant in the championship’s global preparation ecosystem.