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)