CEBU – It's just three days before New Year, but MS Motosuit big boss Lou Ornopia has already laid down the framework of a bigger and better motocross series in 2009.
“Our riders have the talent to endure in this dangerous and exciting motocross event and I have the belief we can make it," said Ornopia during the 3rd MS Motosuit Motocross Series awards night last Saturday at the full-packed Rady's Ballroom of Holiday Plaza Hotel.
"But things are easier said than done. With our knowledge in the past events, the ups and downs, the lessons learned from every failures we had, we can assure you of bringing a more organized and systematic race events in the future,” added Ornopia.
Ornopia, last year's "Sportsman of the Year" awardee by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC), plans to have a twin series next year, one for a night supercross and the other being the fourth leg of the annual MS Motosuit series.
In addition to that, Ornopia divulged that MS Motosuit will put up a video production outfit to give more exposure to the local talents whom they hope will be world-class racers one day.
It is also for the same cause that Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob Sr. extended his full-support to Ornopia and motocross.
As his own way of helping out the development of motocross, Gungob said he is allowing the MS Motosuit to use a part of the six-hectare reclaimed area in Consolacion as a racetrack.
On the same note, Gungob said he is excited about the night supercross competition that Ornopia is mopping out.
“Anything that I can help for this sport and all the more if we can produce international riders or if not stage an international event, it will be a big boost for our town as well. So, let’s help one another,” Gungob said.
The highlight of the affair was the crowning of Seigfred Ornopia as "Rider of the Year." The owner of Keiz BJ Racing Team was joined on the podium by The Freeman's Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, who scored a grandslam feat as "Sportswriter of the Year" for her comprehensive chronicles of motocross events in Cebu.
Seigfred, who started his racing career way back in 1997 with a borrowed dirtbike, gives due credit to his brother Lou for putting up a motocross series mainly in Cebu.
Seigfred was one of the fast-rising riders in Cebu some years back, but stopped from competitive racing to focus with his family and business. At that time, motocross development here slowed down.
The dying state of the extreme sport, however, was resurrected when Lou Ornopia decided to put up a series.
With the full support of other organizers, the series came to life and for three years, it had been a very successful one.
Ornopia thanked all the sponsors and local government officials who had been supportive in all their races here and in other parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
This year, the MS Motosuit Motocross Series covered a total of 14 legs, with Quickflight Racing squad bagging four overall honors out of the nine categories including Bonnie Bustillo for the local enduro and novice enduro, Keith Galaura in the mini class, and Clark Wagas in the novice production.
John Flores also lived up to expectations being an MS Motosuit image model for the youth by clinching the beginner’s open production title.
Seigfred Ornopia came out the best among the rest after posting the highest number of points with 395 in the executive A class.
Gener Sicad got the overall crown in executive B, Butch Flores in the executive C, Rex Barbaso in the intermediate class, while Irwin Ramas-Uypitching of Dumaguete City regained his status as the best expert rider. – THE FREEMAN