Slight and Fogarty confident of win

Slight and Fogarty confident of win

JAKARTA (JP): New Zealander Aaron Slight and Briton Carl
Fogarty, both from the Castrol Honda Team, sounded a pre-race
warning to their contenders with their poise to dominate the
eighth leg of the Superbike World Championship this weekend at
Sentul circuit, West Java.

Slight places himself in the second spot on the leader board
after seven series with 221 points, although he finished sixth in
the seventh leg at the Brands Hatch circuit in England. Teammate
Fogarty is now in third position on 181 points.

Both riders said their winning stride will be boosted by the
new factory engines in their 750cc RC 45s during the 32-field
race along the 3.9 kilometer track.

"I won at Sentul last year. Even without the new motor, I was
confident of victory. I said after the last round at Brands Hatch
that my title chances were good, considering the final five
circuits all suit the Honda," Slight said yesterday.

Defending champion Fogarty failed to complete the seventh leg
in the Brands Hatch circuit two weeks ago.

"I've dropped behind in the championship after my Brands
crash. I have no option now but to chase as many race wins as
possible. I am to start that run here at Sentul," he said.

The last time the New Zealanders shared the laurels was in the
German leg on May 11 and 12, the third of the 12-round series.

There will be four races remaining -- in Japan, the
Netherlands, Spain and Australia -- after the Indonesian leg.

Australian Troy Corser, riding a Ducati 916 and racing under
the banner of Promotor Power House, leads the standing with 229
points.

It will be the third time Sentul plays host to a Superbike
championship. Fogarty and Slight won here in the first and second
years respectively.

Slight secured pole position for last year's two 25-lap races
at 1 minute 28.028 seconds, with 100.69 mph. Fogarty holds the
lap record at 1 minute 28.064 seconds, with 100.65 mph.

All riders will start official practice tomorrow for pole
position for Sunday's race.

Tickets for this weekend's event cost between Rp 5,000
(US$2.1) and Rp 20,000. (yan)