Three local motor racers to train in Spain
Three local motor racers to train in Spain
JAKARTA (JP): Three Indonesian road-race motorcyclists left
the country yesterday to participate in a two-week training
course at the Kenny Roberts Training Ranch in Barcelona, Spain, a
spokesman said.
The three racers are Petrus Canisius, Ade Taruna and Roy
Adianto. They will train until Jan. 31 under the sponsorship of
Marlboro.
Djohar Djoewardi said Thursday that the three racers were
selected following their success in the 1996 Marlboro Asia
Pacific Road Racing Championship and Marlboro Yamaha Cup Race.
"The sending of the racers to Barcelona was a commitment from
Marlboro to improve their performances so they can compete in
major events such as the World Grand Prix," Djohar said. Sending
the best local racers to train overseas has been an annual
fixture for Marlboro.
Last year Ade also went to Barcelona together with Achmad
Jayadi. The two racers failed to qualify for the Marlboro Roberts
Asia team after losing out to two Malaysian racers Sharun Nizam
and Chow Yan Kit.
"We hope this year, the three racers being sent to Barcelona
will be included in the Kenny Roberts team. If they do, this will
be a proud moment for us and also for the racers to compete in
competitions at a higher level," the spokesman said.
According to Djohar, in order to send racers to train in
Barcelona, a number of criteria must be fulfilled by the racers,
including that they be young, talented and dedicated. "It is the
young racers that need good training since they have the better
potential to succeed."
Djohar pointed to Japan which trains young racers for up to
seven years before they join a team. "This prolonged training has
resulted in many of the Japanese racers winning a number of Grand
Prix tournaments. We should learn from them."
Marlboro has been involved in training and helping the
development of motor racing since 1972. The first success was in
1972 and 1975 when Giacomo Agostini from Italy became world
champion in the 500cc class. It was then followed by Barry Sheane
of England in 1977, Italians Marco Luchinelli and Franco Uncini
in 1981 and 1982, Eddy Lawson of the USA in 1984, 1986, 1988, and
Wayne Rainey also of the USA in 1990, 1991, 1992. (lnt)