Guam – With this years Shell V-Power Smokin Wheels Weekend happening just a few short weeks away, April 15th through the 17th, many of Guam’s top motocross athletes were getting themselves prepared at the Guam International Raceway in Yigo by competing in this past Sunday’s round 4/10 Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships series.
With clear skies and a cool breeze, competitors and fans enjoyed a dust filled day of close motocross action set on a course that had a few new thrilling sections added into it. The event was free for those who came out to watch and the action started at 1:00 p.m. The Open Motorcycle class was the first race in a day full of competitive classes with each class competing in two heats. The Kids Atv and Minibike classes each ran two heats with each heat being 15 minute plus one lap long. The Open Atv and Motorcycle classes each ran two heats with each heat being 20 minute plus one lap in length.
Highlights Open Motorcycle
#99 Caleb Barretto, aboard a Cycles Plus Honda Crf450, has been unbeatable as of late every time he lines up for a start and this past Sunday’s round four was no exception as Barretto led from start to finish in each of the Open Motorcycle classes two heats. Barretto’s winning streak has propelled him into a thirteen point lead in the championship over #33 Jake Jones, who is also aboard a Honda.
Taking second overall in round four was team Cycles Plus rider #7 Jonathan Tye Lizama aboard a Kawasaki Kxf250 and third place went to the Triple J supported #33 Jake Jones aboard his Honda. Rounding out the top five overall respectively was team Cycles Plus rider #5 Shawn Aguilo, aboard a Kawasaki Kxf250, and #94 Bryan Barker, aboard a Yamaha Yzf450.
Highlights Open Atv
#1 Robert Bucek and his Cycles Plus Suzuki Ltr450 had been flawless coming into round four of the series having taken the win in every heat of the first three rounds of the series. Bucek’s flawless record was appearing to continue as he easily took the win in heat one of round four. A new guard was letting its presence be known. At the drop of the green flag, signaling the start of the second heat for the Atv class, it became immediately apparent that Bucek was being challenged for the lead.
#6 Honda mounted Donavan Pitter was charging hard and putting pressure on Bucek. For the first five laps Pitters, in certain sections of the course, would pull along side Bucek and just about have the pass made before Bucek would then blitz to shut the door in defense of the lead. The pace was frantic during those first five laps causing Pitters to eventually slowly fade back allowing the forty eight year old Bucek to escape, losing the lead.
Bucek kept the fast and frantic pace going into the second half of the heat as if trying to put an exclamation point on having defended his position suddenly made a mistake. Bucek allowed his bike to stall as he had stopped to pick up a course cone in which he had knocked over in a hard left hand hair pin turn. Bucek’s mistake allowed the #6 Honda of Donavan Pitter to fly by and take the lead. Bucek quickly restarted his machine and was in pursuit and, within two laps, was side by side with Pitters and banging wheels.
The two Open Atv guns were battling each other wildly for several laps until Bucek managed to sail into a section and make a block pass to take the lead. Once again Pitter faded back allowing Bucek to pull away. But lightning can strike twice as Bucek, who was still charging at a fast pace, knocked over the same exact cone with just two laps left in the heat remaining. This time Pitter took advantage of the mistake prone Bucek, who was once more picking up a course cone, and wasn’t going to give the vet a second chance. Pitters poured on the power for those remaining two laps to edge out Bucek for the first time this year for the Open Atv class overall round win.
Bucek took second overall for the round with #14 Sade Pitter aboard a Simpson family owned Suzuki ltr450 taking third overall. Rounding out the top five overall respectively were #16 Jeremiah Shelton aboard a Suzuki Ltr450 and #32 Andrew Painter aboard GTR Motorsports supported Honda Trx400.
Kids Open Minibike
One of the most exciting races of the day, the Kids Open Minibike class, saw #111 Rico Pereira, aboard a Hond,a and #14 Yamaha mounted Anthony Ignacio out front and putting on a great show. The two young guns swapped the lead back and forth and had the crowd on its feet and armed with all types of visual capturing components. At times the two would appear to bounce off each other as they banged bars and elbows for both of the 15 minute plus one lap heats.
When the checkers fell it was Pereira just edging out the current points leader Ignacio for the win. Anthony Ignacio took second with #98 Marshal Vawters taking third overall in the round. Rounding out the top five were respectively #10 Robit Casper Cabe aboard a Suzuki and #1 JR Cepeda aboard a Johnstone Supplies supported Kawasaki.
Open Kids Atv
#9 Ramon Torres, aboard his Haul Pro supported Apex, has been perfect and round four of the Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championship series was no exception as he blazed his way to sweep both heats for the overall round win. Taking second was Marcus Manglona aboard his #27 DRX supported by GTR Motorsports. Taking the final step on the podium was team Aloha Maids #18 Isaiah Reyes aboard a DRX. Rounding out the top five were respectively #49 Mason Manglona aboard a GTR Motorsports supported DRX and #4 Janissa Torres on her Haul Pro supported DRX.
Other Top Results
450cc Motorcycle class had #99 Caleb Barretto aboard the Cycles Plus Honda Crf450 easily take the win followed by #94 Yamaha mounted Bryan Barker in second.
250cc Motorcycle class own #7 Jonathan Tye Lizama take the round win aboard the Cycles Plus supported Kawasaki Kxf250. Taking the second place position overall for the round was the current class points leader #33 Jake Jones aboard his Triple J supported Honda Crf250. Third place went to team Cycles Plus rider #5 Shawn Aguilo aboard a Kawasaki Kxf250.
90cc Kids Atv class action saw #9 Ramon Torres on a Haul Pro Apex take the win over #27 Marcus Manglona and #4 Janissa Torres respectively both aboard DRX kids atv’s.
70cc Kids Atv class action had #18 Isaiah Reyes aboard the Aloha Maid supported DRX sweep both the heats to take that class overall win. Taking second and third respectively were #49 Mason Manglona and #5 Colin Ray Cruz both aboard the DRX machine.
85cc Kids Minibike class was dominated by the current points leader Yamaha mounted #14 Anthony Ignacio. Taking second was Suzuki rider #98 Marshal Vawters with #10 Robit Casper Cabe taking the third place overall position aboard his Suzuki.
65cc Kids Minibike saw #1 Christian Duke aboard a Suzuki take his third round overall class win of the series. Placing second behind Duke was #6 Stoney Bucek aboard a Kawasaki.
The next round of the Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships will be held on Saturday, April 16th and will run in conjunction with this years Shell V-Power Smokin Wheels Weekend. For more information contact GRF public information officer Rob Bucek at 727-5381 or visit www.AtvMotocrossGuam.com.
Information from a press release.
frankie@spbguam.com
