Motorcycling: Rainey on the trail of Schwantz

KEVIN SCHWANTZ, the world championship leader, will start from a disappointing fifth position on the grid in today's Czech 500cc motorcycle Grand Prix.

Fellow American Wayne Rainey, world champion and second in the current standings, increased the pressure on Schwantz in the final qualifying session yesterday by taking pole position.

Rainey, riding a Yamaha, produced the fastest lap time of 2min 2.448sec on the 5.39km (3.34 mile) Masaryk circuit. Schwantz leads Rainey by three points, 192 to 189.

The Australian Mick Doohan, on a Honda, was second fastest in 2:02.804 and the American veteran John Kocinski returned to 500cc action on a Cagiva by taking third position in 2:03.152.

They were followed by the Italian Luca Cadalora on a Yamaha in 2:03.163 and Schwantz on a Suzuki in 2:03.210. Rainey, a three-time world champion, and Schwantz have turned this year's championship into a two-man battle.