Fierce battle expected at Tangerang motocross

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)