Guam – Round nine of the ten round Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships was held this past Sunday at the Guam International Raceway in Yigo. The motocross racing supported by Cycles Plus Honda and RPM Yamaha Power Sports started at 1pm and was once more free for all to come out and watch.
Early on Mother Nature had been nice and what had began that morning as a promising day of fairly dry but overcast skies, perfect for a day of motocross, turned into a 30 minute down pour just moments before the 1pm start of the premier Open Motorcycles class. The down pour turned the course into what was already a challenging layout into a course where survival to the checkers became every competitors main focus. The competitors however took the monsoon type conditions in stride as they blasted off the starting line for the first of their two 20 minute heat races that would determine the round 9 results.
#59 Caleb Barretto riding aboard the team Cycles Plus Honda Crf450 quickly showed the remainder of the class that he was serious about winning the round and the championship by leading both heats from start to finish. While Barretto tore up the track to make it a two heat sweep the battle for second place was being fought between four riders. #111 Jacob Einloth and #78 Anthony Ignacio both racing aboard Yamaha Yz125’s along with #5 Shawn Aguilo and #7 Jonathan Tye Lizama who were mounted on a pair of team
Cycles Plus Kawasaki Kxf250’s were all slamming it up as they battled one another intensely for position. At the checkers it was Anthony Ignacio taking second with Lizama in third. Fourth place went to a hard charging Jacob Einloth who now sits just one point behind #33 Jake Jones for third place in the championship standings. Rounding out the top five was Shawn Aguilo.
With his two heat sweep for round 9 Caleb Barretto has moved back onto the top of the Open Motorcycle class championship standings with just four points separating him from Jonathan Lizama who sits in second in the standings. The August 7th round ten final will be the decider in this battle for the championship.
With the course conditions wet, rough and just plain nasty the Open Atv class competitors found the track perfect and were eager to get started and into all that round 9 muck. Taking an early lead was team Cycles Plus Suzuki rider #1 Robert Bucek who
was being closely pursued by #4 Donavan Pitter aboard a Honda Trx450 and #20 Jerry Joaquin aboard a Suzuki Ltr450. With course conditions deteriorating quickly, the leader Bucek suddenly had his motor stall as he was attempting to clear his vision from all the mud that had accumulated into his helmet and onto his goggles. Bucek’s stall had allowed for #20 Jerry Joaquin to take over the lead for the next several laps and had also allowed the #4 machine of Donavan Pitter to slip into second. Bucek, after clearing his vision by tossing his goggle to the side of the track, quickly made a charge back towards the lead. Bucek’s first victim to be passed was the Honda Trx450 of Pitter who had just slipped out a bit wide in a slick 90 degree turn allowing Bucek to block pass his way for the position. One lap later and going down the high speed spectators straight Bucek made the move on Joaquin as Joaquin battled his machine for control as it skimmed across several sets of mud puddles to the crowds delight. At the half way mark of the heat Bucek had retaken the lead and went on to take the win. Second place however was still being contested as Pitter had reeled in Joaquin who was now also having vision problems from all the mud being thrown up from the machines. Pitter had made quick work on Joaquin to take second leaving Joaquin alone to a third place in the first heat.
In heat two Bucek jumped out to an early lead and dominated having lapped the entire field of competitors by the time the checkers had waved. Taking second in heat two was Aloha Maid supported Shane Reyes racing aboard the #10 Kawasaki Kfx450. Third place went to the #4 of Donavan Pitter. Overall Bucek and his Cycles Plus Suzuki Ltr450 took the round win extending his championship points lead by 150 points over the second place of Donavan Pitter who sits securely in second in the Open Atv standings. Third place round 9 finish went to #10 Shane Reyes with the #20 of Jerry Joaquin and the #73 Yamaha of Anthony Gumabon placing fourth and fifth respectively.
Other high lights saw #14 Anthony Ignacio who had raced earlier on this day in the Open Motorcycle class take the Kids 85 and Open Minibike class round 9 win with his little brother #29 Andrew placing second. Third place went #1 JR Cepeda who had a
spectacular crash during his first heat race but was able to remount and finish to salvage points. Fourth went to #98 Marshal Vawters Jr. with fifth place going to #4 Rowen Pereira. In the Kids 90cc Atv class Ramon Torres took first with #11 Jose Simpson
taking second. Third place went to rookie competitor Jordan Leon Guerrero.
In the Kids 70cc Atv class #49 Mason Manglona was unstoppable as the extreme muddy conditions suited him and his Docomo supported Apex perfectly. Taking second was team Aloha Maid’s #18 Isaiah Reyes with #99 Victoria Clark finishing third. Taking the Kids 50cc Atv win was team Aloha Maid’s #16 Luke Reyes.
In the Kids Open Atv class #49 Mason Manglona was awarded first with #18 Isaiah Reyes placing second and #99 Victoria Clark taking third.
The Monster Energy 2011 Guam Motocross Championships will conclude with the round 10 the final to be held on Sunday August 7th at the Guam International Raceway in Yigo. Gates open at 9am with the racing set to begin at 1pm. For more information visit
www.AtvMotocrossGuam.com or contact Guam Racing Federation Public Information Officer Rob Bucek at 727-5381.
Information from a press release.
frankie@spbguam.com
