Sentul 'a street circuit' for 2017 MotoGP

Upgrades to the Sentul for the proposed 2017 Indonesia MotoGP will see the track take on the character of a street circuit.

As well as the necessary safety modifications for FIM homologation, the renovation plans include extending the circuit length to 4.2 km and increasing the number of corners from 11 to 14.

"Sentul will become a street circuit, it will pass through the housing estate and commercial area. A hotel will be built next to the circuit so guests can watch the race from their rooms like at the Monaco Grand Prix," the Jakarta Post quotes Sentul Circuit president director Tinton Soeprapto as saying.

Hermann Tilke will be involved in the re-design, with renovation due to start in December and the repaving in March.

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrowi recently signed a letter of intent for the MotoGP event, with Dorna saving a place on the 2017 calendar pending the completion of the upgrades.

"We have the biggest population of two-wheel users in the world. We have the biggest motorcycle factory in Indonesia as well as one of biggest tyre factories in the world, so as the automotive centre we deserve to hold the event," Soeprapto added.

The last Indonesian Grand Prix took place at Sentul in 1997 (pictured).