Honda riders take lead pole positions
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Michael Machio of France led the Honda riders, with Jimmy Button of U.S.A. and Brian K. Jorgensen of Denmark making it one-two-three at yesterday's practice for today's World Motocross Championship.
Machio clocked two minutes 34.76 seconds for the 14th lap and topped the ranking list, ahead of second-placer Button with the time of 2:35.30. Button produced his time for the 10th lap, while Jorgensen timed at 2:35.44 for third place.
"Everything can change tomorrow (Sunday) in the race and taking one-two-three position in the qualifying round does not mean it will guarantee that we will win the event," the Arizona- based Button told The Jakarta Post.
The scheduled 40 minutes, plus two laps, official practice yesterday was delayed one hour behind the schedule time due to technical reasons and was reduced to a 30 minutes practice.
However, he admitted it was a good start for the real battle on Sunday, because, "by clocking the fastest time we have the right to choose the best place at the starting gate."
"Choosing the best and the right starting place will give the rider a better chance and it will also play a pivotal role in winning the race," Button added.
Indonesia's heat and high humidity have been placed as the number one obstacle facing foreign crossers coming from Europe.
"The scorching heat and the delay of the qualifying round, which was held over 30 minutes instead of the scheduled 40 minutes have sapped our energy," Paul Malin, of Nottingham, England, said. Malin, riding a Yamaha, clocked 2:35.88 and was placed sixth behind Kawasaki rider France's Sebastien Tortelli with a time of 2:35.72.
Finishing fourth was fellow countryman Frederic Vialle, also on a Kawasaki.
The track, which raised a lot of dust during the early stage of the official practice time, was declared dangerous, claiming its first victim when Dutch rider Edwin Evertsen fell from his Honda. Evertsen clocked 2:41.53 in the 6th lap but was forced to leave the race when he had a fall during the next lap. He was sent to local hospital for treatment.
Thirty-six riders, 31 of whom are foreigners, including the world best 15 after the France race, which was the 10th leg of the world's 12-leg championship, will battle for top honors today. The rest of the field were local best hopes, who qualified for the race.
The five Indonesian crossers are Johny Pranata (Suzuki 2:54.18); Irwan Ardiansyah (Yamaha 2:55.13); Peters Tanujaya (Yamaha 2:57.29); Satya Sunarso (Yamaha 2:57.62); and Dwi Sugiarto (Yamaha 2:59.49).
They were 32nd to 36th place finishers respectively, and they proved their prediction, made before the qualifying round, was right when they said it was almost impossible to finish among the best 20, against giant riders from Europe, the U.S. Australia and South Africa. (rsl)