38 riders confirm entries for World Championship
38 riders confirm entries for World Championship
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty-eight riders will compete in the 250cc
World Motocross Championships from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3, at the new
Jatinangor track near Bandung.
The championships are the 12th in the series sanctioned by the
world governing body of motor sports FIM.
The track was given the go ahead to host the world race after
Irish FIM top official Tony Skillington inspected the track
twice.
"This is one of the most beautiful motocross tracks FIM has
ever licensed for a world race," Skillington said.
The 1.8-kilometer track, built on eight hectares owned by
STPDN campus, is surrounded by four universities including
Padjadjaran University. The STPDN is a university high level
education which train the will be sub-district heads.
There will be riders from 15 countries including the United
States, Italy, England, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, New
Zealand, Japan and Australia.
The overseas riders will arrive in Indonesia a week before the
championships to get a feel for the circuit.
"The track is now 90 percent complete. Many local leading
crossers who have been trying to get the feel of the track found
it very challenging," organizing committee official Helmy Sungkar
said Thursday.
The world's leading 250cc motorcross racer, Belgium's Everts
Steven, will lead the field in the Gudang Guram Mesran World
Motocross Championships.
Steven, on his Honda, has garnered 130 points after four
rounds in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Italy.
He is trailed by countryman Bervoets Marnicq on 110 points.
Sebastian Tortelli, the 1996 125cc world champion who has
moved to the 250cc division, is third with 97 points.
"They are among the world's leading motorcross racers who have
confirmed their participation in the Jatinangor race," Helmy
said.
Helmy believes if the tight battle for top honors at the first
10 events is any gauge, racing at Jatinangor will be close.
The riders are now fighting for top honors in South America
for the 10th round in Brazil and the 11th leg in Venezuela before
coming to Bandung.
From Bandung the series will move to Poland and then
Switzerland before the series ends in Germany on Sept. 6 and
Sept. 7.
The race is the first 250cc world championships held in Asia.
Tickets cost Rp 3,000 for Saturday races and tickets for
Sunday's races cost between Rp 6,000 and Rp 25,000. (rsl)