Local crossers to face international challenge

Local crossers to face international challenge

JAKARTA (JP): National crossers will face the arduous
challenge of beating 10 world rated riders at the international
motocross championships slated for July 9 and 10 in Surabaya,
East Java.

Akira Hasono, Kenji Suzuki and Kentaro Murahashi of Japan,
Luke Sullivan, Jason Marshall and Greg Lane of Australia, Josh
Coppins and Nigel Smith of New Zealand, Alwin Vanasten of the
Netherlands and Pauwles Andy of Belgium are among foreign big
names who have planned to take part in the race.

The event will also serve as the second leg of this season's
national championship series.

The two-day motocross championships, which will be held at the
newly constructed track at Grande Family Estate housing complex,
is offering a total of Rp 11 million (US$5,147) in cash prizes to
the winners.

National champion Jhony Pranata, the Tanujaya brothers of
Frans and Pieter, Satya Sunarso and Dwi Sugiarto will don their
racing suits in their bid to break the jinx of finishing at the
wooden spoon behind world-class rivals at every international
event staged on their home turf.

Australian Kim Ashkenazi led ten overseas crossers to rule the
roost at the first leg in Yogyakarta last April. Frans finished
11th to become Indonesia's fastest rider to match the visiting
rivals.

The race, officially called Lucky Strike International
Motocross Championships, is made up of four series this season.
The four-leg series this season will be the final test of
Indonesia's bid to host one of the world championships series in
1996. (amd)