Sentul prepares for motorcycling grand prix<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Sentul circuit in Bogor, West Java is
\ngearing up for the world motorcycling championship races planned
\nfor April 5 to April 7 with an improvement project on safety
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
Director general of the circuit management PT Sarana
\nSirkuitindo, Tinton Suprapto, told a press conference here
\nyesterday that the company has earmarked around Rp 2 billion
\n(US$873,000) to enlarge the safety gravel at seven curves along
\nthe 3.965-kilometer track.<\/p>\n
\"The safety gravel will be extended to at least a 120 degree
\nangle in order to give a falling rider wider space to survive,\"
\nTinton said.<\/p>\n
A movable concrete fence will also be built around the track.
\n\"The circuit is now re-designed for a Formula One auto racing
\nchampionship,\" Tinton said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian motorcycling GP championship, the first of its
\nkind to be held here, is the second of 15 races included in the
\ncalendar of world motor body FIM this season. The series kicks
\noff at the Shah Alam circuit, Malaysia a week before the
\nchampionship at Sentul.<\/p>\n
Tinton refused to disclose the funds needed to stage the world
\nraces. \"We received a special price from the promoter of the
\nchampionship. But I'm afraid organizers of the other races will
\nask for the same price if I let the cat out of the bag.<\/p>\n
\"The races here cost us more than one million dollars,\" Tinton
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the improvement project, requested by the
\nInternational Road Racing Track Association (IRTA), will be
\ncompleted by the end of this month.<\/p>\n
IRTA is the organization which supplies riders for the world
\nchampionship series. Twenty three 500cc riders, 25 riders in the
\n250cc division and 24 in the 125cc class have been listed to take
\npart in the world series this season.<\/p>\n
IRTA secretary general Mike Trimby, who also spoke at the
\nconference, said that in terms of track condition and safety
\nfacilities, Sentul is \"one of the best circuits in the world.\"<\/p>\n
Trimby said the adjustment project was urgent since riders
\nfrom nine world teams will make private testing on the track from
\nFeb. 6 to Feb. 8.<\/p>\n
Organizers of the Indonesian motorcycling championship expect
\n80,000 people to watch the three races. They will distribute
\ntickets costing between Rp 20,000 and Rp 1 million (between $8.7
\nand $436.7) throughout the country.<\/p>\n
They said 105 TV stations from all over the world will
\nbroadcast the races live. (amd)<\/p>",
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