Motorcycling: Battle resumes for Doohan

KEVIN SCHWANTZ, the American Suzuki rider and defending 500cc world champion, leaps into action in practice yesterday for tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. Schwantz was fastest in the first qualifying session on the 4.4-kilometre circuit in southern Spain.

Michael Doohan, of Australia, Schwantz and his compatriot, John Kocinski, renew their battle for the world championship tomorrow. Each rider goes into this fourth race of the season with one victory behind him.

Doohan, riding a Honda, leads the world championship with 61 points. Kocinski, on a Cagiva, has 52 and Schwantz 48. If the leading trio slip up, Italy's Luca Cadalora and Japan's Shinichi Itoh will be waiting to pounce. The Italian, who won last year's British Grand Prix at Donington, was second in Australia and fourth in Malaysia and Japan. He trails Schwantz by just two points.

(Photograph omitted)