Nov 26 : Roman, Chua, Esguerra and Jao win in the first IRGP

RGP News No.10

The recently concluded InsideRACING Grand Prix Presented by Motolite Motorcycle Batteries was considered a resounding success by many.
 

Despite the news of an approaching super typhoon, thousands of racefans and rider groups trooped to the Carmona Circuit in Cavite to witness a milestone in Philippine motorsports history unfold.

The prestigious annual race organized by InsideRACING magazine and sanctioned by the FIM-NAMSSA, was participated in by factory teams, namely PMR, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Motorstar, and Tiger as well as privateer teams AJRL, Sonic Boom, Motobok, Anchor-KSR, GNV-Kokki-Bikerslane-ATL, Pimp My Bike and Daquigan Twins. All the riders used tires provided by Bridgestone, the official tire of the IRGP.

Aside from the on track action in four exciting race classes, the spectators were delighted to see most of the riders and the different teams’ GP-style garages as well as the many give-aways by the events sponsors.

In the Castrol Juniors Trophy, Anthony Roman of team Yamaha won a three way battle with the two Tiger motorcycle mounted riders Mark Medina and Victor Laude. The Juniors Trophy Manufacturers Award went to Yamaha. Medina was also fastest after Saturday’s qualifying. One of the crowd favorite, Kawasaki’s Dashi Watanabe was the first to retire on lap seven. PMR’s Basil Aljamani finished in eleventh.

In the Shell Advance Master Trophy Class, Kawasaki’s Mark Chua led for the majority of the race over Yamaha’s Rizaldy Canare and Suzuki’s Tomas Iraq Bauzon. Chua’s win also gave the Masters Trophy Manufacturers Award to Kawasaki. Pole winner Jaime Barcial of team Yamaha suffered a mechanical problem and had to pit early in the race and lost 2 laps but still finished in fifth place. The oldest rider in the group, 50-year old privateer Rene Lachica finished an impressive eight place.

In the 22-rider Castrol 115 GP, it was a hectic three way fight between Tiger’s Dustin Esguerra and Team Yamaha’s Mark Barcial and Anthony Roman, the pole winner. After a long race, Tiger’s Esguerra gave the Thailand brand its first victory in its Philippine circuit racing debut. Barcial was second with Roman in third. Tiger also claimed their first Manufacturers Award. Meanwhile, privateer Daquigan and Yamaha’s Rowell Bongon were involved in a massive accident in turn 1 during Saturday qualifying . Both riders were not badly hurt and managed to return on Sunday to finish in sixth and ninth place respectively.

The final event of the day became unpredictable when a slight drizzle made the track slippery just before the start of the race. The Shell Advance 130 GP was a thriller as the veteran Jolet Jao of Shell Advance-Anchor Sprocket-KSR Performance team erased a big lead by Suzuki’s Johnlery Enriquez with a few laps to go. After being passed, the young Enriquez made a mistake and crashed, giving second place to Team Yamaha’s Jaime Barcial. Enriquez recovered to salvage third place. Jao, who also won pole position in qualifying, was the only non-factory rider to claim a victory in the IRGP as Team Yamaha claimed another Manufacturer’s Award. Motorstar’s Larry Zapanta and Mark Indiongco finished in sixth and seventh respectively tearn Motorstar a double top eight finish. Meanwhile, PMR’s Benjo Mendoza was unlucky despite lapping as fast as the leaders.

In between the races, the race fans were able to enjoy the booth displays from Motolite, Bridgestone, Shell Advance, Castrol, Denso, MS Motosuit, Spyder, Stavellan, Motoworld, and OZ Racing.

After the races, many went home satisfied and highly impressed by what they have experienced and praised the organization and running of the event and are looking forward to the next one.

It was truly a” One Great Race”!



Official Results:

Motolite InsideRACING Grand Prix
Nov 25, 2007 – Carmona, Philipines
Top 8 finishers

Castrol Juniors Trophy
1. Anthony Roman Yamaha 22 laps 20:15.338s
2. Mark Medina Tiger 22 laps
3. Victor Laude Tiger 22 laps
4 . James Barcial Yamaha 22 laps
5. Paul Mark Doblada Suzuki 21 laps
6. Neil Soyangco Motobok 21 laps
7. Halston Mora Pimp My Bike 21 laps
8. Joanna Arreglado Suzuki 21 laps

Shell Advance Masters Trophy
1. Mark Chua Kawasaki 23 laps 19:46.832s
2. Rizaldy Canare Yamaha 23 laps
3. Iraq Bauzon Suzuki 23 laps
4. Mel Aquino Suzuki 23 laps
5. Jaime Barcial Yamaha 21
6. Jackson Braganza Kokki-GNV 21 laps
7. Shervy Soyangco Motobok 21 laps
8. Rene Lachica Kokki-GNV 20 laps


Castrol 115GP
1. Dustin Esguerra Tiger 24 laps 21:30.943s
2. Mark Barcial Yamaha 24 laps
3. Anthony Roman Yamaha 24 laps
4. Masato Fernando Yamaha 24 laps
5. Jeffrey Chan Yamaha 24 laps
6. Rowell Bongon Yamaha 24 laps
7. Paul Mark Doblada Suzuki 24 laps
8. Josh Rueben Tan Suzuki 24 laps


Shell Advance 130GP
1. Jolet Jao Shell-Anchor-KSR 26 laps 25.39.728s
2. Jaime Barcial Yamaha 26 laps
3. Johnlery Enriquez Suzuki 26 laps
4. Mark Chua Kawasaki 25 laps
5. Noel De Mesa Yamaha 25 laps
6. Larry Zapanta Motorstar 25 laps
7. Mark Indoingco Motorstar 24 laps
8. Reynand Dionido Anchor-KSR 24 laps



For more IRGP info log on to www.insideracing.com.ph.