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)