Held in conjunction with the northern province’s 40th founding anniversary celebrations, the event gathered anew some of the country’s best amateur and national riders to compete in the two-day tournament jointly designed to promote Quirino as a venue of choice up north for various sporting events and bring back motocross racing to the national consciousness.
Just like what he had been doing in the previous seven legs, Golden Wheel awardee and Asia’s first motocross champion Glenn Aguilar stamped his class once again as he ruled the Pro Open Category. Despite being challenged by a crack field of riders that came from various parts of the country, Aguilar underscored his stature as a premier rider as he wielded his way through the track with much precision to emerge on top of his class, beating equally expert drivers Bornok Mangosong and Ted Conde for the spot.
Aguilar’s son, Mclean, for his part, ruled the 85 CC Category of the motocross event. Started out riding at the tender age of four, Mclean, now 12, is showing he is on track of following his father’s footsteps as a champion and multi-titled rider. Mclean also competed in the Beginner Open Prod and Novice Open Prod categories, finishing 14th and 17th, respectively.
Matinee idol Milby, meanwhile, built on his third-place finish in the Beginner Open Prod category in the 7th leg of the series in Cavite by finishing first in the class in the Quirino leg. Milby, who is an alumnus of the hit reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother, also competed in the Novice Open Prod, finishing 11th.
Jay Lacnit, CEO and president of event organizer, SEL-J Sports, and one of the prime movers in the revival of the motocross sport in the country, joined the race and finished 9th in the Executive A category, 12th in Executive B and 11th in the Beginner Open Prod. His rival in the sport and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Buboy Fernandez also competed and finished 10th, 7th and 13th in the same categories.
Provincial governor Junie E. Cua was a gracious host to the weekend event which was part of his province’s weeklong founding anniversary celebrations dubbed “Panagdadapun Festival” with the overall theme “I Love Quirino.”
An Ilocano word for “assembly,” the panagdadapun highlighted the Quirinians’ drive for unity towards the further development of the province.
Last June, the province also hosted the Governor Junie E. Cua Invitational Motocross Cup.
Winners
The top three riders/winners from all categories were: Glenn Aguilar, Bornok Mangosong and Ted Conde (Pro Open); Sam Milby, Judy Bacabac and Jepoy Rellosa (Beginner Open Prod); Jessy Pineda, Atong Mangosong and Arniel Lacnit (Novice Open Prod); Atong Mangosong, Arniel Lacnit and Pepo Rubi (Intermediate); Clifford Gabriel, Arwin Palilio and Loue Panahon (ATV Open); Bombet Santos, Rojay Fernandez and Aikee Mapa (Underbone Open); Bombet Santos, Gani Marquez and Dulay Andrew (Local Open Enduro); Bick Bick Sibbaluca, Rojay Fernandez and Gerald Esquibil (Underbone Local); Bombet Santos, Jun2 Antonio and Dulay Andrew (Novice Local Enduro); Ompong Gabriel, Car Michael Santos and BJ Pepito (50 CC); Ompong Gabriel, Jhetrick Marquez and BJ Pepito (65 CC); Mclean Aguilar, TJ Alberto and Kurt Amdengan (85 CC); Dexter Bacabac, Irwin Lacnit and Roman Laurente (Executive A); Hermes Bantoc, Butch Flores and Towak Amdengan (Executive B); Ferdinand Navarro, Atong Laurente and Buboy Fernandez (Executive C); and Pia Gabriel, Marriane Yapparcon and Jade Nabua (Ladies). -- Michael Angelo S. Murillo
(Pro Open); Milby, Judy Bacabac and Jepoy Rellosa (Beginner Open Prod); Jessy Pineda, Atong Mangosong and Arniel Lacnit (Novice Open Prod); Atong Mangosong, Arniel Lacnit and Pepo Rubi (Intermediate); Clifford Gabriel, Arwin Palilio and Loue Panahon (ATV Open); Bombet Santos, Rojay Fernandez and Aikee Mapa (Underbone Open); Bombet Santos, Gani Marquez and Dulay Andrew (Local Open Enduro); Bick Bick Sibbaluca, Rojay Fernandez and Gerald Esquibil (Underbone Local); Bombet Santos, Jun2 Antonio and Dulay Andrew (Novice Local Enduro);
Jay Lacnit, the CEO and President of the event organizer, SEL-J Sports, joined the race and finished 9th in the Executive A category, 12th in Executive B and 11th in the Beginner Open Prod. His longtime rival in the sport, Manny Pacquiao’s assistance trainer Buboy Fernandez, finished 10th, 7th and 13th in the same categories.
possible. The yearly Quirino day motocross event is part of the province’s efforts to promote Quirino as the sports capital of northeastern Philippines. Last June, in celebration of the governor’s birthday, the Governor Junie E. Cua Invitational Motocross Cup was also held at Quirino. #
