Betabeq ceremony opens Mandalika preparations for 2026 MotoGP

Mandalika — Organisers and local authorities held a Betabeq ceremony at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, ahead of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia MotoGP round scheduled for 9–11 October 2026, according to the circuit organiser and local media reports.

Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the state-owned company managing the Mandalika tourism area, hosted the event at the circuit’s VIP Deluxe building in the Mandalika Special Economic Zone in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The ceremony gathered West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, Central Lombok Regent Lalu Pathul Bahri, Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026 chairman Troy Reza Warokka and Mandalika Grand Prix Association President Director Ananda Mikola, alongside representatives of local government, security services, community organisations, religious leaders and residents from villages around the circuit.

The Betabeq programme combined formal remarks, collective prayers and communal dining, including the sharing of tumpeng, a cone-shaped rice dish commonly used in Indonesian thanksgiving rituals. ITDC and regional officials described the gathering as relatively simple in form but important as a social and cultural counterpart to the technical preparations for an international race held in the middle of a local community.

A cultural welcome before the race

Betabeq is a Sasak tradition understood as a request for permission, blessings and protection before a major undertaking, especially when it affects the land and water where an activity will take place, according to explanations from the West Nusa Tenggara governor and local coverage of the event.

In the Mandalika context, the ceremony is presented by organisers as an expression of respect for neighbouring residents and the social environment surrounding the circuit, as well as a way to welcome guests and ask for support so the race can proceed safely and smoothly.

Regional leaders frame the practice as part of local wisdom rather than a purely symbolic ritual. Governor Iqbal has linked Betabeq to efforts to affirm regional cultural identity and ensure that major events take account of values held by Sasak communities hosting them. The province has supported the tradition’s use at large-scale gatherings, including the MotoGP round, as a reminder that global sporting spectacles remain rooted in local customs and responsibilities.

For organisers, community backing sits alongside technical and operational readiness. ITDC has described Betabeq as one element of its social preparation approach — informing, engaging and preparing communities living around Mandalika for the arrival of riders, teams, workers, media, tourists and spectators, all of whom are expected to increase economic and social activity in the area.

By structuring the ceremony around local residents, religious leaders and community representatives, organisers place host communities within the broader planning process for the MotoGP event. Coverage of the ceremony highlights that the race is being promoted not only as a sporting programme but also as an opportunity to introduce Lombok’s culture and regional identity to domestic and international visitors.

Balancing international sport and local values

ITDC and regional officials have said that international events in Mandalika should consider social and cultural dimensions in addition to tourism promotion, infrastructure and economic impact. Within that framework, Betabeq functions both as a gesture of respect to local society and as a way to maintain a link between the circuit and its host communities before and during race weekend.

The ceremony does not replace technical or operational preparations for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026, which is listed on MotoGP calendars and ticketing platforms for 9–11 October at the Mandalika circuit. Instead, organisers describe Betabeq as a complementary step intended to strengthen communication and cooperation with people living around the tourism area and racing venue.

Officials and organisers also view the event as a platform to showcase local traditions to guests arriving for the MotoGP round. Tourism promotion materials note that the 2026 race is part of Mandalika’s wider development as an international destination, with the combination of world-class motorsport and Lombok’s cultural heritage intended to draw visitors and attention from across Indonesia and abroad.

Sources

• RRI Mataram – Tradisi Betabeq Kembali Digelar Jelang MotoGP Mandalika 2026
• TribunLombok – Minta Restu Sebelum Balapan, ITDC Gelar Ritual Betabeq di Sirkuit Mandalika
• VOI – Mandalika MotoGP Preparations Enter Final Phase, Circuit Chase for October Homologation
• Speedweek – Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026
• Goers / Mandalika GP Ticketing – MotoGP Mandalika 2026
• Motorcycles.News – MotoGP Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026
• Indonesia.travel – MotoGP GP Mandalika
• Motogp-indonesia.com – Mandalika International Street Circuit Ticket Information