Bikes rev up to scream through Sentul
Bikes rev up to scream through Sentul
By Matthew Allen and Alexander Corne
The high-pitched scream of Formula One motorcycle engines will pierce the air at Sentul, outside Jakarta, next weekend as the first bike Grand Prix held in Indonesia gets underway.
However, world champion Mick Doohan's Team Repsol/Honda Racing Corporation team manager has voiced doubts over safety at the circuit, following an off-season test session.
The Formula One bike Grand Prix takes place over the weekend of April 5 to April 7, with 500cc, 250cc and 125cc classes all set to provide a hard-fought second round clash.
The season kicks off at Malaysia's Shah Alam circuit outside Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (Sunday March 31), with Australian Mick Doohan aiming to win his third 500cc world title.
Hot favorites to stop him are compatriot Daryl Beattie and Italians Luca Cadalora and Loris Capirossi and Spaniards Alex Criville and Alexandre Barros.
Whatever the outcome in Malaysia, when the teams arrive in Indonesia, the new circuit will mean everyone starts at the same level.
While the 3.96km track has hosted superbike racing previously, the Formula One race will give Sentul world wide exposure.
During the brief months of development of bikes for this season, Honda Racing visited Sentul to get a feel of the track, attempt some competitive times and try to track down any problems with their new machine for this season.
Following the tests, the team manager of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), Tatsuo Kurosawa said he was worried about drainage of water from the track.
"I think the circuit is good, but conditions during testing were not so good," he said.
He said the team complained to the race organizers that the track failed to dry out completely, leaving dangerous wet patches around the circuit.
"This is not so good for rider safety," Kurosawa said.
The HRC team were satisfied with the testing they completed, gaining the view that compared to other Formula One circuits, Sentul would be fast and provide a tight race.
Kurosawa promised an entertaining race and said the Suzuki Lucky Strike team with Daryl Beattie, and all Yamaha's riders would offer the toughest competition.
"In the 250cc class we have to beat Max Biaggi," Kurosawa said.
Biaggi, like Doohan, has won two world championships, and is keen to make 1996 his hat trick year with the help of his Chesterfield/Aprilla team.
But Kurosawa believes HRC has every chance to tie up another 500cc and 250cc championship, continuing their dominance in the sport.
The Sentul race will give many Indonesian sponsors their first chance of international exposure, not only via the intense media scrutiny and live television broadcast, but also via the elite group of international sportspeople the race attracts.
Formula One bike Grand Prix tickets range from Rp 25,000 for the festival area, Rp 150,000 for Class A tribune area and Rp 250,000 for First Class Tribune area and Rp 1 million for VIP.
Following the Formula One bike race in April, Indonesia's round of the World Superbike Championship takes place at Sentul in August.