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)