Foreign riders ready in Surabaya

JAKARTA (JP): Within 24 hours of their arrival, overseas riders who are expected to highlight the international motocross championships in Surabaya, East Java this weekend accustomed themselves to the track through morning and afternoon practices yesterday.

Japan's Akiro Hosono, Kentaro Murahashi and Kenji Suzuki, Australians Jason Marshall, Luke Sullivan and Greg Lane, Josh Coppins and Damon Smith of New Zealand and Oscar Vromas and Roel Verstegen, both from Holland, rode their motorbikes past the grueling Grande Family Estate circuit, a new field in Surabaya's eastern suburbs designed for supercross championships.

The crossers were among 10 foreign headliners at the two-day race with Rp 11 million (US$5,150) in cash prizes up for grabs. Suzuki, in a Yamaha, Coppins, on his Suzuki and Marshall, who will also ride a Yamaha, are being billed as favorites to take top honors.

Racing on his home turf, national championships leader Jhony Pranata, nicknamed Kucing (cat) for his agility, will lead the local challenge composed of the Tanujaya brothers of Frans and Pieter, Satya Sunarso and Dwi Sugiarto.

The motocross event is the second leg of the four-round Lucky Strike international championships series organized by the Indonesian Motor Association and sanctioned by the world motorcycle body FIM. The race will also serve as the seventh stop in the national motocross championships series. (amd)