Raising up a Phoenix

The article that follows was originally intended to come out in our Motoring section as part of my coverage of the Asia Road Race championship that was recently held in Madras, India.

During the four-day event, I had a first hand experience observing the Team Suzuki Pilipinas which is the official International Motorcycle Racing Team of Suzuki Philippines and our country’s official representative to international motorcycle competitions. I also met very passionate individuals who were motorcycle enthusiasts as well as media practitioners.

During these encounters I pieced together a story that very much reflects the sad and difficult state of motorcycle racing in the Philippines.

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This is the story about “Raising up a Phoenix”.

In the face of overwhelming loss, there is the tale of a great and mighty winged creature that rises from the flames of destruction. When all seems lost the Phoenix rises.

But what happens when the Phoenix itself has been slain?

This is the question that continues to haunt the members and supporters of Team Suzuki Pilipinas, as they live up to international racing commitments particularly in the Asia Road Racing championship, better known as the ARRC.

With high hopes and great potential, Team Suzuki Pilipinas joined the ARRC as their initiation to international competition; featuring home grown talents Maico Greg Buncio and John Lery Enriquez. The initiation however has turned out to be both tragic and traumatic.

Barely six months after their launch, Team Suzuki lost their star driver Maico Buncio in a race-related accident at the Clark Speedway where the promising rider was reportedly thrown off his bike, slid and rolled almost 100 meters on the track and was skewered by a protruding piece of steel bar.

When paramedics reached him, they pulled him off the steel bar, which allegedly should not have been done. Instead, the medics should have stabilized Buncio and cut off the bar. Buncio eventually died at a Manila hospital due to internal injuries.

As in all accidents, questions and actions remain unanswered and undone concerning liability and accountability. As a result, a congressional investigation has been launched to find answers as well as solutions.

Because of the gruesome freak accident, so many questions have been raised about how safe race tracks are in the Philippines, and if the virtual monopoly of race tracks should be allowed to continue to operate free from supervision and government regulation.

Questions have also been raised regarding insurance coverage, the competency levels of medical emergency response teams, as well as the need for mandatory review and oversight of racetracks under safety organizations.

Congress will be calling in the paramedics to determine if they knew what they were doing and maybe even to ask why there was no helicopter on standby considering the historical fact that motorcycle racers are prone to serious injuries in race-related accidents.

This in turn has opened a barn of questions and allegations challenging the integrity and professionalism of sanctioning or regulatory organizations related to racing in the Philippines.

Many unkind words have been said regarding the NAMSSA or National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association because of their alleged failure to fairly enforce safety standards.

One Congressman made mention of the conflicting reports about whether or not the race where Buncio died was sanctioned by the NAMSSA. According to media sources the race was “technically” sanctioned by NAMSSA because of an earlier memorandum of agreement between track owner Johnny Tan and NAMSSA officials.

The level of dislike however was so intense that the two groups did not sign the MOA in each other’s presence. When the lethal accident happened, sources say that the NAMSSA tried to wash their hands by claiming the MOA was invalid because Johnny Tan never paid the necessary fees as required by NAMSSA.

Sadly, just like in any other sport in the Philippines, when arrogant old men quarrel and officials quarrel, it is the athletes who suffer.

As Team Suzuki officials struggled through the painful and difficult search for Maico Buncio’s replacement, the rest of their riders had no race track to practice in because they were reportedly “not welcomed” to run at any of the tracks which all belong to “The Godfather” of racing circuits Johnny Tan.

In fairness to Johnny Tan, we can surmise that the unofficial declaration was more of a preventive measure upon the advise of counsel. Faced by a hurricane of accusations, the last thing Tan needed was another Suzuki rider getting hurt on one of his tracks or for snoopers to come in on a “fault finding mission”.

The team on the other hand has refused to comment or be involved in what they collectively feel will be damaging to the sports. They just want to focus on racing and let other people deal with the issues.

From what I’ve heard and gathered from members of the motoring media, Pinoy racers and motorcycle racing enthusiasts alike, everyone involved in the sport and in the mess are saying they want to resolve the differences and move forward. But in their fear and their pride, everyone is waiting for someone to make the first move.

As an outsider looking in and objectively listening to it all, it would be safe to assume that because of this major incident and major quarrel within the sport and industry that is motorcycle racing, the stakeholders will have to agree to clean up their act and work together or find themselves regulated through legislation and taxed as they have never been before.

When this happens, we can all expect Congress to investigate race track operations. We can expect inquiries to be done concerning the competency and integrity of governing bodies and their officials, particularly regarding bias and corruption. We can also expect more attention from media concerning the work environment and culture of motorcycle racing.

The question is — can they all stand being under a magnifying glass?

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