Stellar Cast In Fim Puerto Princesa Moto Meet
February 25th, 2006
New Zealand’s James Robinson gave local riders a preview of what they have to contend with in the 2006 Motocross Masters of Asia slated in Puerto Princesa City next month when he edged top Filipino rider Glenn Aguilar in the battle for the top prize of the opening round of the 2006 Camel International Supercross series held in Talisay City, Negros Occidental recently.
Aguilar who grabbed the top honors in the Pro 125 category earlier was not as fortunate in the final moto of the Pro Open class where he suffered a spill while chasing Robinson in the race’s homestretch. Robinson crossed the finish line unchallenged but the 9-time Rider of the Year was unfazed by the setback and immediately waxed optimistic when asked of his and the other local riders’ chances in the Puerto Princesa tiff.
“We are grateful to Camel for putting up the two tune-up events in Talisay and Iloilo. We definitely will need to train hard so as not to let our countrymen down. While there is pressure since we are hard-pressed to win on our home turf, the fact that we will be having the crowd behind us negates all that,” said Aguilar.
Robinson will be joined by a host of national motocross champions in the 2nd leg of the FIM UAM Asia Pacific Motocross Championship. Robinson and Aguilar, together with Japan’s Kazuki Sugiyama, Australia’s Jye Harvey, Arnon “Turbo” Theplib of Thailand and Indonesians Aep Dadang Supriatna and Denny Orlando have been installed as the favorites.
The Philippines’ Kenneth San Andres, Jovie Saulog and Bebet de la Cruz, China’s Shi Lok and Shi Yu Men, former Indonesian 85 stalwarts Aldi Lazaroni and Adi Aprian, Nic Yasuhiro of Guam, Floyd de la Cruz and Ellery Cruz of Saipan, Gayan Sandaruwan of Sri Lanka and Hongkong’s Sean Hewett are all darkhorses, each rider capable of stealing the thunder from the favorites.
The 2006 Motocross Masters of Asia is expected to draw 70,000 plus spectators to the sprawling natural motocross track situated near the Puerto Princesa City Hall on March 18-19, the competition dates. Preparations are currently in full swing with no less than Puerto Princesa City CEO Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and the City Administrator Agustin Rocamora overseeing the progress to ensure that it will be able to duplicate its success in the previous years and bolster Puerto Princesa’s tag as the country’s sports tourism capital.
Meanwhile, the 2nd round of the 2006 Camel International Supercross Series again featuring New Zealand’s James Robinson gets underway at the Sta. Barbara Stadium in Iloilo City on March 4-5.
The 2006 Motocross Masters of Asia is being organized by the NAMSSA and supported by the City of Puerto Princesa, the Philippine Sports Commission, motorcyclephilippines.com and Inside Racing magazine. For details on the Motocross Masters of Asia and the Camel International Supercross Series, please email namssa01@hotmail.com or call 0917-8992363.
