Barba seals crown in First RP Mountainbike Pro Tour

Joey Barba of Dumaguete City defied all odds to virtually claim the overall championship crown of the downhill event of the First Philippine Mountainbike Championship Pro Tour yesterday at the Velasquez-owned property in Busay.

Barba claimed the title after going undefeated in all three legs of the event.

The BentSpoke and Ground Zero-supported Barba posted a minute and 42.08 seconds yesterday.

With the Visayas-Mindanao elimination victory, Barba already has the overall crown of the elite division as he accumulated 60 points.

Yesterday's battle saw Tacurong native Mitchel Beatriz winning the third leg's second place honors with 1:47.10 while Jefrey Odiviar was third with 1:47.10.

Brian Say settled fourth with 1:48.06, Baguio's Aki Nolasco at fifth spot with 1:49.70 while Mark Trinidad ended sixth with 1:55.02 and Wendel Barba at seventh spot with 1:59.35.

In the novice class, local rider PJ Yu won the top post in 1:51.50.

Donkey Sanchez, who is also into motocross followed Yu, in 1:55.25 as multi-titled sportclimber Crecencio "Jun-Jun" Vidal won third in 2:03.63.

Elwyn "Bawing" Bucariza completed the champion's cast after coming out the fastest in the beginner's class in course technically-designed by former RP member Boyet Camba.

Bucariza made sure not to be overshadowed by his elder brother, Wenston's by winning his class with a time of 1:58.28.

The last cycling varsity of the University of Cebu, Bucariza was lucky enough to have raced well in the first heat as the organizers later on decided to cut the race short due to the rains.

Lex Lopez was second in 2:03.70 and Galvin Galan at third spot with 2:16. After the downhill competition, mountainbikers return with the cross-country event divided in different classes.

The Vis-Min leg of the event presented by San Mig Light, "Para sa mahaba-habang inuman" and produced and organized by Urge Magazine "Adrenalin In Print" under Rekta Productions and Sports Management Incorporated is also sponsored by Oakley, Solar Sports, Sport Plus, Fox Racing, Timex and Kamikaze Outdoors.

The last regional elimination is also supported by The Freeman, RGMA Campus Radio, Push Radio, Killer Bee Cebu, Powerade, Viva Mineral Drinking Water, Cebu Daily News, Castle Peak Hotel,Hero Energy Drink, RCTV Cebu, Home Radio 97.9, NU 107, Wave 89.1, Jam 88.3, Sulpicio Lines Inc., Sound Balloon Cebu, The Journal Group, Abante Group, The Daily Tribune, The Manila Times, The Manila Standard TODAY, and Pulp Magazine.