P40,000 at stake in PTT underbone race

CEBU, Philippines - A total of P40,000 in cash prize is at stake for the different category winners of the PTT Philippines, Inc. and Evvolve Marketing Corp.-presented 2nd Mayor Jonas Cortes Underbone Rally Cross Racing 2009 this Sunday at a specialized racetrack in north reclamation area near the Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU).

“This is the biggest underbone race in Cebu in terms of prizes,” said Evvolve Marketing operations manager Rico Gonzales in a news conference yesterday at Family Choice Restaurant in Gaisano Countrymall. “This is our year-ender event so we decided to give bigger (cash) prizes,” he added.

Aside from trophies and assorted freebies from corporate sponsors, the champion in the expert category will pocket P10,000, while the second and third will receive P5,000 and P3,000, respectively.

The first three finishers in the novice division will get P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000, while the top three in the beginners class will receive P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000. The fourth to eight will not go home empty-handed, Gonzales assured.

Gonzales said after the contest, they will hand over the “Rider of the Year” award, which is a toss-up between Erwin Albaracin and Jay-R Cañeda.

Gonzales added that during the race day, they will be introducing PTT’s latest product named Challenger, a fully synthetic motor oil suited for racing motorcycles.

At least 80 riders from 20 teams are expected to join the battle of speed, mental toughness and maneuvering skills.

Aside from Cebu, extreme sport enthusiasts from Bohol, Dipolog and Dumaguete have already signified their intent to take part in the one-day tilt organized by Power Sports Racing (PSR) in association with the city govenment of Mandaue.

Gonzales, on the other hand, announced their plan of venturing into motocross next year as part of their commitment to propagate the gospel of motorsports not only in the Queen City of the South but also in other key areas in Vis-Min region.

“In 2010, we will explore the possibility of sponsoring motocross events,” said Gonzales.

Meanwhile, PSR president and race organizer Jonas Adlawan announced the staging of the 1st Mayor Tomas Osmeña National Motocross Championship on December 27 at the South Road Properties (SRP). To further drum up the event, a press conference is set at 2 pm on Monday at Teatro Casino of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel.