World top stars to race Yogyakarta championships

JAKARTA (JP): The top 15 finishers, after the France world moto cross championships, headed by Italian Alessandro Puzar, will see action when Yogyakarta hosts the 11th series of the world championships on July 30.

This year's 125cc world championships have been fixed by FIA, the world motorcycle governing body, to 12 legs, starting from early March to August. France hosted the 10th leg in the series, which were held last Sunday. The opening leg was held in Italy on April 2.

After France, the series moves to Yogyakarta for its 11th series, before going to its final leg in Germany, scheduled for Aug. 13.

"The top 15 finishers in the France event must continue their battle for top honors in Yogyakarta," committee spokesman Faryd Sungkar told reporters yesterday.

He said 32 crossers, including those 15 current world leaders from five continents, and eight local crossers, will be in the field for the 11th leg of the world series, officially called Bentoel Motocross World Championship.

Yogyakarta was named as the host after a four-year battle by the Indonesian Autosport Association, the association's secretary-general Doly Indra Nasution, said.

Puzar, on a Honda, leads the provisional standings after the France leg with 287 points, followed by fellow countryman, Yamaha rider, Chiodi Alession, five points behind. Third was France's Tortelli Sebastian, on Kawasaki, with 201 points.

Host Indonesia is awarded two wild cards in the two final races on July 30, at the expense of two crossers who finish in 38th and 40th places, during the qualifying leg on July 29.

The finals will take place in times of 40 minutes, plus two laps each, twice longer than the national championship races.

National championship leaders Johny Pranata, the Tanujaya brothers of Pieter and Frans, Edi Sumampouw, Satya Sunarso, Roni Karno and Ardiansyah are vying for the wild cards.

The other world top riders to compete in Yogyakarta are Claudio Federaci (France, Yamaha 171 points), Strijbos Dave (Holland, Suzuki 168), Jimmy Button (USA, Honda 164 points), Michael Maschio (France, Honda 142 points), Massimo Bartolini (Italy, Honda 135 points), Michele Fanton (Italy, Kawasaki 134 points) and ranked 10th after the France event Paul Malin (Britain, Yamaha 118 points).

According to Faryd, everything needed in the world championships, including the pitch, located in the northern part of Yogyakarta, has reached 90 percent completion.

"We are set to make the world motocross championship, the first ever held in Indonesia, a success," Faryd enthused. (rsl)