Leading world crossers to lock horns today

JAKARTA (JP): Thirteen leading world competitors will lock horns in the fourth and final leg of the Lucky Strike International Motocross Championships due to start today at the Raffles Village track in Cibubur, East Jakarta.

And if their behavior during Wednesday's practice session is any indication they won't be going into the battle of honor unprepared.

Australian Jeff Leisk, runner up in the 1991 World Championship, showed a serious effort to familiarize himself with the track by making at least 20 trial laps on his Suzuki.

Dutch Oscar Vromas, one of the European top 10, spent all his time testing his Honda. He said he needed some time to adjust himself to the tropical heat but was optimistic that he would win.

"I hope heat and humidity will not hamper my performance," Vromas said.

Australian Kim Ashkenazi, winner of the championships's first leg in the series in Yogyakarta, demonstrated his highly refined skills of straight jumps, triple jumps and passing a table top during the official drill on his Yamaha.

A few days before, Indonesia's top crossers Johny Pranata (Suzuki), Satya Sunarso, Peter and Frans Tanujaya (Yamaha) were already showing their strong determination to win when they tried out the track.

Given the competitors' strong will to stake their claim to victory, it is quite difficult to predict who will eventually win, a committee official said.

Up to the third leg held in Lembang near Bandung, West Java, Damon Smith (Suzuki) of New Zealand had the lead, collecting a total of 110 points, followed by Japanese Akira Hosono (Honda) who collected 100 points, but is not going to compete today, and Dutch Oscar Vromas (Honda) with 81 points.

The championships, which will last until Sunday, offer a total final-round cash prizes of Rp 7.5 million (US$3,429) and an overall cash prize of US$8,000 for winners who have taken part in the championships since the first round. In addition, the organizer also announced that Indonesian crossers who collect the highest points in the senior and junior categories will get bonuses totaling Rp 15 million.

Today, the championships will be preceded with motorbike scrutineering, briefing and some warming up before the participants start contesting the 125 cc international moto one, the 125 cc junior and qualifying rounds.

Tomorrow, the championships will begin at 9 a.m., contesting the 125 cc international moto two and three and the 125 cc junior moto two and three, grass track classes and the 250 cc international. (arf)