Foreign crossers lead in Lucky Strike Int'l race

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)