The Polemic Of The MotoGP “Rain Handler” At The Mandalika Ciruit That Amazed Many Countries

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is ready to hold MotoGP Indonesia 2022 after the organizational structure involving MGPA, IMI, DZE, and RMI is formed. Where the Managing Director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA), Priandhi Satria, officially announced the organizational structure that will be responsible for organizing the Indonesian MotoGP at the Mandalika Circuit on March 18-20.

Priandhi explained that the preparation of the circuit and supporting facilities had entered the final stage in accordance with the standards set by the FIM as the regulator and Dorna Sports as the MotoGP commercial rights holder.

In this inaugural MotoGP match at the Mandalika Circuit, there was one thing that really caught the attention of many people and even foreign countries regarding the magic of the rain handler who managed to relieve the heavy rain before the match started.

Rara, whose full name is Raden Roro Istiati Wulandari, became a public concern when he appeared in the pit lane when heavy rain hit the Mandalika Circuit. This supernatural power has succeeded in causing a lot of polemics and arguments from various points of view.

Interestingly, not only one or two countries praise Rara's supernatural powers, but many from various countries. One of them, Spain, DAZN, praised the greatness of Rara the rain handler when many Indonesians threw insults at him.

Regardless of whether Rara's magical knowledge is true or not, from my point of view, I think that it is a form of genius marketing strategy carried out with the aim of promoting local wisdom which, of course, was introduced by Indonesia to the international world.

My presumption is supported by the fact on the ground that in fact the rain handler was deliberately highlighted and followed by the camera to broadcast to the Indonesian and international public while carrying out rain control rituals. In fact, it could be that the rain control ritual is carried out in a more hidden way and not shown to the public.

Bibliography:                                                                

1.      Ramadan, Fadli Muhammad. 2022. “MGPA Forms the Organizational Structure of MotoGP Indonesia 2022”, https://id.motorsport.com/motogp/news/mgpa-form-structure-organization-motogp-mandalika-2022/7950570/, accessed on 26 March 2022.

2.      Rachmansyah, Andika. 2022. ”Spanish Media Praises the Greatness of Rara the Rainmaker When Many Indonesians Throw Blasphemy”, https://sports.okezone.com/read/2022/03/22/38/2565682/media-spanyol-puji-kehebatan-rara-si-pawang-hujan-di-saat-banyak-orang-indonesia-yang-lempar-hujatan, accessed on 26 March 2022.

3.      Rizki, Annasa. 2021. “This is the Profile of Dorna Sport, MotoGP Organizer in Mandalika”, https://sport.bisnis.com/read/20211115/60/1466130/ini-profil-dorna-sport-penyelenggara-motogp-di-mandalika#:~:text=Bisnis.com%2C%20JAKARTA%20%E2%80%93%20Mandalika,baru%20yang%20berlokasi%20di%20Lombok. accessed on 26 March 2022.