Sentul circuit impresses 250cc champion Beaggi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three-time 250cc motorcycle world champion Max
\nBiaggi said yesterday he was impressed by the Sentul circuit near
\nBogor.<\/p>\n
"The track at the Sentul circuit is good for both motorcycle
\nand car races. I believe it is the best in Southeast Asia,"
\nBiaggi said. He was accompanied by Minister of Youth Affairs and
\nSport Hayono Isman, Tinton Soeprapto, the circuit's manager and
\nan official from Marlboro.<\/p>\n
Hayono was inspecting the circuit for a motorcycle Grand Prix
\n(GP) race in September.<\/p>\n
Biaggi arrived here Sunday to try out the track on his new
\nHonda NSR250 before a Grand Prix in Shah Alam, Malaysia, on April
\n13.<\/p>\n
There will be 15 legs in the 1997 motorcycle Grand Prix. The
\nSentul circuit has been chosen by the world motorcycle federation
\nto host the 14th leg on Sept. 28.<\/p>\n
The 15th leg will be on Oct. 5 at Philip Island, Australia.<\/p>\n
Biaggi tested the circuit at Philip Island between Jan. 21 and
\nJan. 23.<\/p>\n
Biaggi is a member of the Marlboro Team Kanemoto and former
\nmember of the Chesterfield Aprilia Team.<\/p>\n
This will be Biaggi's last year on the 250cc circuit as he
\nplans to concentrate on racing 500cc motorcycles next year.<\/p>\n
Tougher<\/p>\n
Competition in the 500cc class will get tougher when Lucky
\nStrike introduces the Suzuki RGV500-Gamma XR87. The new bike is
\nmodeled on the successful series of V4 500cc Grand Prix bikes
\nfrom Hamamatsu's racing department.<\/p>\n
The V4 was first raced in 1987. The MKII model of the V4 was
\nthe most successful, claiming 24 Grand Prix wins, and the World
\nChampionship title for top rider Kevin Schwantz.<\/p>\n
Biaggi said he was set for the Malaysian Grand Prix: "My
\ntarget is of course winning the race and I am optimistic I can
\nwin it."<\/p>\n
The Chesterfield Aprilia Team brought Biaggi to Indonesia last
\nyear to test the Aprilia RSV250 motorcycle at the Sentul circuit.<\/p>\n
Biaggi said he chose the Sentul circuit as a practice track
\nbecause he wanted to get away from the crowds and practice in
\nIndonesia's weather.<\/p>\n
"I chose Sentul as my preparation for the Malaysian GP race.
\nIt was very difficult to practice in Australia because of the
\nsnow. Weather in Indonesia is better and it is good for
\npractice," Biaggi said.<\/p>\n
A Marlboro official said that Biaggi's high profile would
\nencourage Indonesia to hold Grand Prix races. "The Indonesian
\npeople have shown great interest in automotive sports and for
\nthis reason, Marlboro will continue supporting all GP races."<\/p>\n
The official said Marlboro was sponsoring local rider Ananda
\nMikola Soeprapto for the Formula III race in Italy on March 30.<\/p>\n
Hayono urged other companies to promote automotive sports:
\n"Marlboro has given a good example and this should be followed by
\nother companies."<\/p>\n
The minister added that the Indonesian Motor Association
\nshould seek to support talented young riders like Biaggi.<\/p>\n
"We have potential racers but we don't have them of Biaggi's
\ncaliber. The Sentul circuit is a good place to create good
\nracers," Hayono said. (lnt)<\/p>",
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