Aguilar won his Ninth Rider of the Year title at the conclusion of the Ultimate Red Horse Beer-Smart Buddy Speedfest Championship at the Palo Alto Racetrack in Baras, Rizal recently.
The 2003 Asia-Pacific champion was towing the field in the final race of the Pro Open when disaster struck. As the Revtex Rocket and his racing machine soared high, he was swept away by a strong gust of wind, causing him to crash and dislocate his shoulder, allowing his rivals to take advantage in the Speedfest, under the aegis of the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (NAMSSA).
But it didn’t matter. For going perfect in all of the earlier rounds thanks to the backing of Revtex, Aguilar, whose son McLean, also became a champion in the Peewee Division, has already accumulated enough points for the Pro Open championship — his ninth in a colorful racing career — that he had the choice of skipping the final leg and still win it all.
"Of course, there’s nothing like ending the season on a winning note, but accidents like this happen," said Aguilar, who however, has vowed to mount his racing machine once his injury heals. "The drive will always be there."