Satya wins national motocross title

JAKARTA (JP): Satya Sunarso from Yogyakarta clinched the National Motocross Championship title despite finishing second in the season-ending race at Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang, West Java Sunday.

The 33-year-old Yogyakartan shared the top spot on the day with Frans Tanujaya of Bandung after Sunday's two-round contest with 37 points, but an Indonesian Motor Association ruling gave the Bandung rider the victory for better second-round efforts.

Frans, on a Suzuki RM 125cc, collected 13 points after 25 minutes and two laps of race, while Satya, who rode a Yamaha YZ, managed only nine points.

Satya sealed the championship with 85 points from five legs, six points clear of the overall runner-up Frans.

"I'm out to defend my title next year, although there are many younger riders lining up to take it from me," said Satya, a graduate of an art institute in his hometown.

In the main card 250cc Asia Pacific Championship, Japanese- born Australian Takeshi Katsuya turned the tables on the favorites by winning the race. Katsuya collected 37 points after two races, beating Sinichi Kaga of Japan and Nigel Smith of New Zealand, who were tied on 30 points.

Frans saved Indonesia's pride when he finished fifth behind American rider Paul Lindsay.

In other undercard races, Luke Urek of Australia won the 80cc class and Andi Suryanto of Yogyakarta triumphed in the junior 125cc.

Sunday's championship was the second leg of the five-round Asia Pacific series. The championship series moves to Osaka, Japan, on Nov. 17 and returns back south to Sydney on Nov. 24, before concluding in Bangkok on Dec. 8. (amd)