A substantial resurfacing, intense cleaning on the rest of the track and revised tyre allocation since the pre-season test are just some of the unknown factors heading into this weekend's first Indon⛎esian MotoGP since 1997.

In the words of Andr🦄ea Dovizioso, it's going to be a 'strange race'.

The WithU RNF Yamaha rider was just 19th at the pre-season Mandalika test, but still within꧂ 0.830s of the top. He returns after a disappointing opening round in Qatar, where he finished 14th on his debut with the factoryജ-spec M1.

Like f❀actory team riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, Dovizioso suffered tyre pressure issues while following other riders in the Lusail race.

“After a not so easy first round in Qatar, we really aim to do a stronger result in Indonesia and will try to avoid the mistakes we did at the f𒈔irst Grand Prix," Dovizioso said.

"The Mandalika Circuit is♛ a new track for everybody, on top there will be a new asphalt and a new tyre compared t🦹o what we had during the test there, so it’s going to be a strange race.

"Anyway, it’s a very nice ♒track, so I’m☂ looking forward to race there!”

Rookie team-mate Darryn Binder, riding the year-old M1, had a much more positꦏive Qatar race.

The South Africaꦕn, who finished last year𝓀 in Moto3, battled with fellow rookies Remy Gardner, Fabio di Giannantonio and Raul Fernandez for the final premier-class point, losing out to Gardner by just 0.012s.

Unlike Qatar, Binder and the other rookies at l𒐪east have some prior track k๊nowledge on a MotoGP bike for Mandalika.

“I’m really excited to get to Indonesia now," said Binder. "I definitely enjoyed the test there, so it’s very nice comin𒆙g to a track, where I have done a c💫ouple of laps on a MotoGP bike already. I’m super excited about that!

"I’m quite happy abo💜ut how things went in Qatar, which makes me even more motivated to get another race under my belt. I’ll just try to pick up where I left off in the race in Qatar, take everything I learned and put it to action.

"I’ll try to have a good weekend in Mandalika and hope thꦇe track ✱conditions there are better than during the test.”

With Mandalika top speeds around 40km/h slower t💟han Qatar, the M1 should also face less of a performance disadvantage this weekend.

“Following the test in Mandalika, we have been quite pleased. The track fits our bik♏e pretty good and also both riders like the layout, so this is a nice sign," said team ൩manager Wilco Zeelenberg.

"Of course, we are eager to see how they were able to change the🐻 asphalt and how everything will work, so that the riders can actually fight with each other, whichꦆ was our main issue during the test.

"To come to Indonesia witဣh all the things we ne🐎ed to do - PCR tests, forms and applications - is already a challenge itself.

"It’s an effort, so let’s see how all of that works out, as soon as we arrive, I’m su✤re, everything will be fine. Anyway, we are🅷 looking forward to that second round of 2022!”