THE region’s best and brightest stars on two wheels pit guts and skills as sports tourism capital Puerto Princesa City hosts Rounds 3 and 4 of the FIM Asian Motocross Championship Series on June 9 to 11.
Led by 2016 FIM Asian Motocross Championship overall champion Chaiyan Romphan of Thailand, the motocross field is practically a who’s who of the best motocross aces in the Asian continental championship, which is one step away from the world championship level of the FIM competition program.
Standing in the way of Romphan will be Guam’s motocross great Sean Lipanovich, who won Rounds 1 and 2 of the Asian series in Malaysia, and the Philippines’ very own reigning Rider of the Year Kenneth San Andres.
Joining the fray for Asian supremacy bragging rights are national motocross champions from Japan, Indonesia, Guam, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the USA.
Also dubbed “Mayor Luis Marcaida III Cup,” the annual Asian motocross series will be be staged at the city’s world-class motocross race track and is organized by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association, the sole governing body for the sport in the Philippines.
“Once again, we turn to sports to flaunt the beauty of our country,” said Mayor Marcaida. “Sports tourism not only boosts our image in the eyes of the world, it also fosters camaraderie, brotherhood and peace.”
Also held in collaboration with the City of Puerto Princesa, Asia Brewery, Shakeys, Giligans, Summit Water, Foil a Fly, Globe Telecom, Foilacar, Filigans Hotel and Cobra Energy drink, the event is expected to draw an estimated 60,000 spectators, with TV broadcast coverage being provided by ESPN, Eurosports and Fox, showcasing the sights and sounds of Puerto Princesa City as the last frontier in southeast Asia and airing to 635 million households in seven continents in the past 10 years, including the 104 member nations of FIM.
Overall champions of MX2, MX 85 and the MX veterans categories will be feted at the FIM Asia Gala to be held at the end of the year in Thailand, wherein they will receive their recognition awards with all Asian champions in the FIM Asian discipline of motorcycle sports racing.
NAMSSA President Stephan “Macky Carapiet, in his capacity as the FIM Asia Safety officer, will be overseeing the event together with the International Jury President Pie An Tan of Indonesia and Lai Keng if Malaysia. For more info on the event, call the NAMSSA secretariat at mobile no. 09178479785.
Riders from various parts of the country are also expected to join the event in their quest for individual supremacy and the trophies with cash prizes up for grabs.