Schwantz at Australian Safari

Posted: Sat 12 Aug 2000

Vodafone Australia has announced is the naming rights sponsor of this month\'s 4067km Australian Safari.

American Kevin Schwantz, who won the 500cc world championship in 1993 before the five-year reign of Australia\'s Michael Doohan, is seeded second in the Moto Division on a Suzuki DR-Z400. The 36-year-old from Paige, Texas, won 25 grands prix for Suzuki during his 500cc career and knows he faces a tough cross country rally debut in the Safari.

\"This is the first time I\'ve done one of these races so the other guys are way ahead of me in experience,\" said Schwantz. \"I\'ve been doing as much riding as possible on a (Suzuki) DR-Z400 before coming to Australia to prepare. A grand prix goes for about 45-minutes and you\'re flat-out, but riding more than 300km in a day is something that\'s going to be new to me.\"

Website: www.australiansafari.com.au