Top riders line up for motocross c'ship

JAKARTA (JP): The world's top 15 riders are expected to fight an exiting battle next week in Yogyakarta at the World 125cc Moto Cross Championship, the season's opening competition.

Fifty riders from all over the world, including its top 15 riders from England, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Belgium, Latvia, U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand had confirmed their entries, organizing committee chief Bob R.E. Nasution said yesterday.

"The (top) 15 bikers are rated by the world motor governing body (FIM) and their participation will determine their entry for following races," said Nasution, who is also the Indonesian Motor Association's chairman.

The riders will race hard for points in Yogyakarta, which is a permanent host of the world 125cc moto cross championships, the only event in the series held outside of Europe in the last two years.

"The number of points crossers (riders) get in an opening round of the race series will determine their rankings for the following races," Nasution said.

This year's 125cc moto cross world championship series has 12 legs. From Yogyakarta, the championships will move to Pernes, France, for its second leg on April 13, then to Bell Pug, Spain, a week later. It will then move to Austria on May 4, Italy on May 11, Great Britain on May 25, Slovenia on June 1, Germany on June 22, Finland on July 13, Slovak Republic on Aug. 10 and Belgium on Aug. 17.

The 12th and final leg will be at Lierop, the Netherlands, on Aug. 31.

Indonesia will host five world automotive championships this year. The other four are the world rally championships in Medan, North Sumatra, in September, the world motor Grand Prix at Sentul in September, the world motor superbike at Sentul in November and the 250cc moto cross championships at Jatinangor, near Bandung, West Java.

"This is the first time we have hosted the 250cc (championships). FIM has given its consent knowing that we have been very successful in organizing the 125cc in Yogyakarta since 1995," Dolly Indra Nasution said.

Riders racing for badly needed points in the 250cc championships will include the 1994 world champion Bob More from the U.S. on a Yamaha, Alessandro Puzar on a Yamaha for Italy and Sebastian Torelli on a Honda for France.

Indonesia will be represented by veteran riders Johny Pranata, brothers Frans and Pieter Tanujaya, Satya Sunarso, Dwi Sugiarto, Irwan Ardiansyah and Herdiansyah.

"The circuit (1.8kms long and eight meters wide) is undergoing a small renovation and will be ready by next week," said committee official Faryd Sungkar. (rsl)