Fierce battle expected at Tangerang motocross

JAKARTA (JP): Four senior Indonesian crossers -- Frans and Pieter Tanujaya, Irwan Ardiansyah, Satya Soenarso -- will fight tooth and nail for the national title at the Gudang Garam Asia Pacific Motocross Championship in the Bumi Serpong Damai circuit in Tangerang, West Java, on Saturday and Sunday.

Irwan takes the provisional lead standings of the pack with 52 points followed by Satya with 48 points, Pieter with 42 points, and Frans with 41 points.

Frans or Pieter could win the title if they manage to finish first in front of their Indonesian opponents in both the Saturday and Sunday races. This would raise their points by 20.

However, it may be difficult for Pieter and Frans, and even for Satya to keep up with Irwan as Irwan's recent performances have been very impressive.

Senior crosser, Johny Pranata, the country's leading rider, will be absent from the championship due to an injury he has been nursing since his accident in the championship's fourth leg in Muara Enim, South Sumatra.

But Pranata's teammate, Eddy Sumampow of Surabaya, is a strong contender. He may finish among the top three as he did in the 14th National Games motocross competition in September which was featured as an exhibition event.

Ten foreign crossers will also compete in the championship. Scheduled to arrive here today are crossers from the United States (Paul L.A.M), Japan (Shinichi Kaga and Masatushi Tanabe), New Zealand (Nigel and Blair Smith), Australia, Hungary and Thailand. Four teenage crossers from Australia will be among the riders expected to arrive today. They are Jason Mc. Guiness (15 years old), Meng Wong (15), Cameron Sinclair (12) and Luke Urek (12). (arf)