38 riders confirm entries for World Championship<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty-eight riders will compete in the 250cc
\nWorld Motocross Championships from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3, at the new
\nJatinangor track near Bandung.<\/p>\n
The championships are the 12th in the series sanctioned by the
\nworld governing body of motor sports FIM.<\/p>\n
The track was given the go ahead to host the world race after
\nIrish FIM top official Tony Skillington inspected the track
\ntwice.<\/p>\n
\"This is one of the most beautiful motocross tracks FIM has
\never licensed for a world race,\" Skillington said.<\/p>\n
The 1.8-kilometer track, built on eight hectares owned by
\nSTPDN campus, is surrounded by four universities including
\nPadjadjaran University. The STPDN is a university high level
\neducation which train the will be sub-district heads.<\/p>\n
There will be riders from 15 countries including the United
\nStates, Italy, England, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, New
\nZealand, Japan and Australia.<\/p>\n
The overseas riders will arrive in Indonesia a week before the
\nchampionships to get a feel for the circuit.<\/p>\n
\"The track is now 90 percent complete. Many local leading
\ncrossers who have been trying to get the feel of the track found
\nit very challenging,\" organizing committee official Helmy Sungkar
\nsaid Thursday.<\/p>\n
The world's leading 250cc motorcross racer, Belgium's Everts
\nSteven, will lead the field in the Gudang Guram Mesran World
\nMotocross Championships.<\/p>\n
Steven, on his Honda, has garnered 130 points after four
\nrounds in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Italy.<\/p>\n
He is trailed by countryman Bervoets Marnicq on 110 points.<\/p>\n
Sebastian Tortelli, the 1996 125cc world champion who has
\nmoved to the 250cc division, is third with 97 points.<\/p>\n
\"They are among the world's leading motorcross racers who have
\nconfirmed their participation in the Jatinangor race,\" Helmy
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Helmy believes if the tight battle for top honors at the first
\n10 events is any gauge, racing at Jatinangor will be close.<\/p>\n
The riders are now fighting for top honors in South America
\nfor the 10th round in Brazil and the 11th leg in Venezuela before
\ncoming to Bandung.<\/p>\n
From Bandung the series will move to Poland and then
\nSwitzerland before the series ends in Germany on Sept. 6 and
\nSept. 7.<\/p>\n
The race is the first 250cc world championships held in Asia.<\/p>\n
Tickets cost Rp 3,000 for Saturday races and tickets for
\nSunday's races cost between Rp 6,000 and Rp 25,000. (rsl)<\/p>",
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