Motocross race ends in stalemate

Motocross race ends in stalemate

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

New Zealand's Peter Robert Broxholme and his Japanese rival
Yuya Ozaki shared the glory at the third Asian Motocross
Championship series here on Sunday.

The two red-hot favorite crossers won a leg each in the two-
round race at Maryland Paya Pasir circuit for a two-way tie on
the top of the standings with 45 points.

Ozaki, riding a Yamaha, was the first to beat Broxholme in the
opening moto, which saw the New Zealander, on a Honda, set the
pace before a fall in the 10th minute cost him victory. The
Japanese rider made the full use of his rival's ordeal,
completing the remaining 10 minutes plus two laps unchallenged.

With Broxholme poised to avenge his defeat, Ozaki suffered
mixed fortunes in the second race. The Japanese was leading the
pack and on course for a double when Broxholme burst in front in
the ninth minute and pipped him in the two-horse race.

The results mean the championship winner will be decided in
the final race to be held in Sepang, near Kuala Lumpur on Nov.
11. Ozaki won the first stop, while Broxholme took the second.

Indonesian crossers failed to match their foreign
counterparts, except Irwan Ardiansyah who came closer to making a
podium finish in the second moto on Sunday.

The Yogyakarta native was on course for the third place when
Joe Harvey of Australia overtook him in the dying minute. Irwan
had to be content for the fourth place.

"To me the national crossers deserve a thumbs up for their
efforts today. Finishing fourth is a good achievement," the
event's promoter Helmy Sungkar said.