The circuit opened by hosting rounds of the Asia Talent Cup and Superbike World Championship in late 2021, followed by Grand Prix motorcycle races in 2022.

[2] As a purposely-constructed racing track with wide run-off areas,[3] it is claimed to be a street circuit as parts may be used in future, allowing normal traffic access to new resort facilities.

This area with many native species will only be accessible for low-impact activities, such as cycling or hiking to minimize damage to the flora and fauna.

[6] Previously, Indonesia had held World Championship racing in 1996 and 1997 as well as the Superbike from 1994 to 1997, all at the Sentul International Circuit in Bogor, West Java near the nation's capital of Jakarta.

[7] In January 2017, Managing Director of Mrk1 Consulting, Mark Hughes, made an initial sketch of the circuit layout in Lombok.

[10][11] In November 2017, Vinci Grand Construction Projects signed a contract to build a MotoGP circuit in Mandalika Special Economic Zone, Lombok with an investment value of 6.5 trillion Rupiah.

According to ITDC's Director of Construction and Operations, Ngurah Wirawan, funds will be obtained from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) loans in stages until 2023.

[28] Pertamina spent USD 7 million or around IDR 100 billion for the naming rights and also became the main sponsor of the Mandalika circuit.

[33] On 19 November, after the free practice session of the World Superbike Indonesia round, several riders highlighted the dirty track surface.

But other riders, such as Scott Redding, Leon Haslam, and Michael van der Mark, thought it was normal for a new track.

[34][35] On 21 December, it was announced that Mandalika Circuit would host the final round of GT World Challenge Asia for the 2022 season on 21–23 October 2022.

GT World Challenge Asia Championship Director, Benjamin Franassovici, said that the issue will be resolved so that they have "the option to race there next year".

[38] At the 2022 MotoGP pre-season test, held from 11–13 February 2022, the riders revealed some issues with the gravel and tarmac areas of the circuit.

Pramac Racing team rider Jorge Martin found the gravel outside the track area "too sharp" and "painful".

[39] The dirty condition of the circuit was also complained about by riders such as Aleix Espargaro,[40] Andrea Dovizioso,[41] Alex Rins,[42] and Francesco Bagnaia.

[45] However, as reported by The Race, the dust and gravel on the track was chipped and crushed asphalt material due to the type of aggregate that was finer than the specified specifications,[46][47] and because it was not prepared and used properly.

[61] The project was then heavily criticised by the United Nations, due to reports of local ethnic Sasak people being dispossessed of their homes, lands and livelihoods.

At the time, a combination of a rudimentary drainage system and rain created a chest-deep puddle in the tunnel, cutting off access to and from the neighbourhood for a week.

[75] In November 2021, a video circulated showing the checking of Ducati's racing motorbike in the paddock area of the Mandalika Circuit.

[80] On 16 November 2021, MGPA Chief Operating Officer Dyan Dilato was sacked after making "derogatory" remarks to marshals at the Mandalika Circuit.

Despite the difficult track conditions, the layout was met with praise from riders, with Honda's Pol Espargaró noting that "it has its own character."

According to Ricky Baheramsjah, CEO of Mandalika Grand Prix Association, the corners were reduced and replaced with a straight track due to safety factors and to "add overtaking action."

In March 2022, the designer of the circuit tweeted that he first configured the track layout at a beachside hotel on a visit to Lombok five years earlier.