Doohan gears up Malaysian GP bid

Doohan gears up Malaysian GP bid

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP): World champion Michael Doohan set a new lap record and took provisional pole during Friday's practice for the Malaysian motorcycle grand prix here.

After an impressive win in the season's opening race in Eastern Creek, Australia, last week, Doohan powered his Honda machine around the 3.505-kilometer (2.19-mile) Shah Alam track to clock the best time of 1min 25. 059sec.

The Australian, who was victorious in Shah Alam in 1991 and 1994, also broke the four-year-old lap record of 1min 25.100sec set by American John Kocinski.

Italian Luca Cadalora, who finished fourth in Eastern Creek, came in second fastest on his Yamaha at 1min 25.142sec, or just 0.083sec behind Doohan.