Russel-Fogerty rivalry to continue at Sentul
Russel-Fogerty rivalry to continue at Sentul
JAKARTA (JP): The simmering rivalry between superbike riders
American Scott Russel and Britain Carl Fogarty will take center
stage in Sentul on Aug. 21.
The two world beaters are among the 20 riders who have
confirmed their entries for the sixth series of the Superbike
World Championship. The fifth leg was held in Zeltweg, Austria on
July 17.
The Zeltweg race saw Fogarty outrace Russel and take the lead
atop the provisional point standings with 118, six ahead of the
American.
"The duel between the two and their close rivals in the field
will hopefully delight the Sentul faithful," chief committee
member Tinton Suprapto said yesterday.
Tinton said the top foreign riders, who include Aaron Slight
of New Zealand, Giancarlo Falappa (Italy), Andreas Meklau
(Austria), Doug Polen (U.S.) and Stephane Mertens (Belgium), are
expected to arrive on Aug. 15 and 16.
The track, located near Bogor, some 50 kilometers from the
teeming capital, was inaugurated by President Soeharto last year,
and "is ready to host an event of this magnitude. Hordes of
spectators from overseas have already made bookings at several
five-star hotels in the capital."
Host Indonesia will be represented by 13 riders, most notably
Deden Aryad, the winner of last Sunday's Superbike race at
Sentul. He and national riders Budi Haryono and Bambang Sudarsono
will ride under the banner of Gudang Garam, the major sponsor of
the two-day affair.
Deden and Budi will both ride Yamahas while Bambang will be
astride a Suzuki, committee spokesman Helmy Sungkar said.
This year's Superbike World Championship consists of 14 stops.
The first five were staged in Donington, England ( May 2),
Hockenheim, Germany (May 8), Misano, Italy (May 29), Albacate,
Spain (June 19) and in Austria July 17.
After Indonesia the championships will move to Sugo, Japan
(Aug. 28), Assen, Holland (Sept. 11), Mugello, S. Marino (Sept.
25), Jerez, Spain (Oct. 2), Philip Island, Australia (Oct. 30)
before concluding in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 6(rsl)