Sentul circuit impresses 250cc champion Beaggi

Sentul circuit impresses 250cc champion Beaggi

JAKARTA (JP): Three-time 250cc motorcycle world champion Max
Biaggi said yesterday he was impressed by the Sentul circuit near
Bogor.

"The track at the Sentul circuit is good for both motorcycle
and car races. I believe it is the best in Southeast Asia,"
Biaggi said. He was accompanied by Minister of Youth Affairs and
Sport Hayono Isman, Tinton Soeprapto, the circuit's manager and
an official from Marlboro.

Hayono was inspecting the circuit for a motorcycle Grand Prix
(GP) race in September.

Biaggi arrived here Sunday to try out the track on his new
Honda NSR250 before a Grand Prix in Shah Alam, Malaysia, on April
13.

There will be 15 legs in the 1997 motorcycle Grand Prix. The
Sentul circuit has been chosen by the world motorcycle federation
to host the 14th leg on Sept. 28.

The 15th leg will be on Oct. 5 at Philip Island, Australia.

Biaggi tested the circuit at Philip Island between Jan. 21 and
Jan. 23.

Biaggi is a member of the Marlboro Team Kanemoto and former
member of the Chesterfield Aprilia Team.

This will be Biaggi's last year on the 250cc circuit as he
plans to concentrate on racing 500cc motorcycles next year.

Tougher

Competition in the 500cc class will get tougher when Lucky
Strike introduces the Suzuki RGV500-Gamma XR87. The new bike is
modeled on the successful series of V4 500cc Grand Prix bikes
from Hamamatsu's racing department.

The V4 was first raced in 1987. The MKII model of the V4 was
the most successful, claiming 24 Grand Prix wins, and the World
Championship title for top rider Kevin Schwantz.

Biaggi said he was set for the Malaysian Grand Prix: "My
target is of course winning the race and I am optimistic I can
win it."

The Chesterfield Aprilia Team brought Biaggi to Indonesia last
year to test the Aprilia RSV250 motorcycle at the Sentul circuit.

Biaggi said he chose the Sentul circuit as a practice track
because he wanted to get away from the crowds and practice in
Indonesia's weather.

"I chose Sentul as my preparation for the Malaysian GP race.
It was very difficult to practice in Australia because of the
snow. Weather in Indonesia is better and it is good for
practice," Biaggi said.

A Marlboro official said that Biaggi's high profile would
encourage Indonesia to hold Grand Prix races. "The Indonesian
people have shown great interest in automotive sports and for
this reason, Marlboro will continue supporting all GP races."

The official said Marlboro was sponsoring local rider Ananda
Mikola Soeprapto for the Formula III race in Italy on March 30.

Hayono urged other companies to promote automotive sports:
"Marlboro has given a good example and this should be followed by
other companies."

The minister added that the Indonesian Motor Association
should seek to support talented young riders like Biaggi.

"We have potential racers but we don't have them of Biaggi's
caliber. The Sentul circuit is a good place to create good
racers," Hayono said. (lnt)