Team Philippines-Namssa Gets Ready For 2007 Motocross Masters Of Asia
March 3rd, 2007
Team Philippines-NAMSSA, bannered by ace rider Glenn Aguilar and heir-apparent Kenneth San Andres, is in its full swing of their preparation in the bid to regain the crown in the forthcoming 2007 Puerto Princesa City Motocross Masters of Asia FIM-UAM Asian Motocross Championships reset to March 24-25 at at the sprawling FIM-compliant permanent motocross racetrack adjacent to the Puerto Princesa City Hall.
For Aguilar, it’s back to business as he tries to bounce back from a fifth place finish in last year’s series with high hopes of regaining the Asian motocross diadem he won in 2004.
But with the emergence of new and equally talented foreign rivals, Aguilar knew he has to double up his efforts and bring back the Philippines at the forefront of this event supported by City of Puerto Princesa, Aboitiz 2GO, Oakley and the Philippine Sports Commission.
San Andres, on the other hand, displayed vast improvement since last year as he hopes to make it among the top five finishers in this biggest motorsports spectacle in cooperation with Xtreme Worx Philippines, the Asian regional promoter of event.
Joining them in the country’s crusade for honors are Junior 50 cc. Champion Patrick Orbe, Junior 65 cc. champion Jacob Orbe and Junior 85 titlist Jensen Manuel among others.
“Definitely, this will be a much tougher season. Although we have the hometown advantage, we expect the race to be even more unpredictable with more talented and competitive foreign riders joining the title hunt this year,” said Aguilar.
“I’ll try to do my best. And if I win this kickoff leg, it will be a good gauge for my bid to win the Asian crown,” he added.
Among the foreign riders in the Asian 125 cast are New Zealand’s James Robinson, China’s Shi Lok and Shi Yu Men, Takuma Kojima of Japan, Jye Harvey of Australia, Aep Dadang Supriatna and Denny Orlando of Indonesia, former Indonesian 85 stalwarts Aldi Lazaroni and Adi Aprian; Errol Angoco of Guam; Kacey Callaway of Dubai and Hongkong’s Sean Hewitt.
Last year, it was Arnon Theplib of Thailand who bagged the Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn Cup — a sterling silver trophy coming from the Puerto Princesa City’s chief executive and his constituents.
The Motocross Masters of Asia will also serve as the culminating event of Puerto Princesa City’s month-long Foundation anniversary celebration. Mayor Hagedorn, along with Vice Mayor Lucilo Bayron and City Administrator Atty. Agustin Rocamora, has been meticulously supervising the preparation for the event which the city is hosting for the fourth straight year.
The TV crew of ESPN and Star Sports will be coming over to bring the Philippines on spotlight as it telecast the event participated in by 11 countries to over 540 million viewers worldwide.
Meanwhile, the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (NAMSSA) has proposed to the MMDA the adaptation of the city ordinance law for all motorcycle two wheel road users to have permanent daylight riding lights on whilst on public roads.
In the past the NAMSSA has met and provided road safety information to the MMDA road safety department equipped with studies from the United Nations and World Health Organization Road Safety statistics, proving the DRL enhances visibility of two wheel vehicles and therefore provides more visibility for greater road safety measures.
Recently during the council meeting held in the MMDA office, together with the 17 city mayors of Metro Manila. NAMSSA Director General Stephan “Macky” Carapiet” made the said presentation and defended its stand on the benefits of the DRL for two wheel vehicles. We have sighted that our counter parts in the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocycliste) of 95 other member nations globally some of whom have already agreed and have implemented the DRL system.
The NAMSSA was very happy when they passed this proposed resolution and would correspond to the manufacturers so all bike sales in the country today would have permanent headlights on when sold to the public.
For details on the Motocross Masters of Asia and the proposed MMDA regulation, please email namssa01@hotmail.com or call 0917-8992363.
