Foreign crossers lead in Lucky Strike Int'l race

JAKARTA (JP): Unchallenged on the national scene, three leading local crossers were forced to surrender their top billing when they took on foreign rivals in the Lucky Strike international motocross championship concluded on Sunday in Yogyakarta.

Jhony Pranata and the brothers Frans and Piters Tanujaya, who have dominated the national motocross scene for the last three years, finished outside the top ten with a lesson on the level of international competition. The event was the first of four races in the Lucky Strike international championships.

As expected, the world class crossers from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England and Sweden owned the top ten at the Maguohardjo track in Yogyakarta.

Kim Ashkenazi of Australia, riding a Yamaha YZ, was unstoppable as he collected 57 points in the 125cc Special Engine event. He took control of the first two heats and collected 40 points ahead of compatriot Lee Hogan, on a Honda CR, who trailed closely with 34 points.

However, in the third heat the Melbourne-based Hogan, who maneuvered his bike dazzlingly, took over the command by finishing ahead of Ashkenazi and carding 20 points for his total of 54.

But the victory came late as Askenazi 17 points from the third heat were enough for him to win the 125cc SE race with an aggregate total of 57, three points ahead of Hogan.

New Zealand's Darryl Hurley was third with 35 points. Riding a Suzuki RM, he finished seventh in the first heat. In the last two heats (moto) Hurley, who placed second in the Pan Pacific 125cc race last year, bettered his position by finishing fifth and third respectively.

Frans and Piters were placed 11th and 12th, ahead of Jhony who was 14th with seven points.

However, in the national rankings the three local favorites topped the provisional list. Frans was on top with 57 points, followed by Piters' 45 points for second place and Jhony's 40 points for third.

In the 250cc international race, once again the Australian duo blitzed ahead to rule the event for their own, leaving the other contenders in their wake.

Ashkenazi finished top after conquering the circuit in 19 minutes 43.63 seconds in a 20 lap race. Hogan was second in 19:52.39 (17 laps) and Josh Coppins of New Zealand, on a Suzuki RM clocked 20:00.78 (15 laps).

The second series of Lucky Strike international motocross, sanctioned by FIM, the world governing body of motor races, will be staged in Surabaya on July 9 to 10, 1994. (rls)