Aguilar, Jao bag Golden Wheel

Multi-titled champions Anthony Glenn Aguilar and Jolet Jao bagged the top plums in the recently concluded third annual Golden Wheel Award at the Airport Casino Filipino.

Aguilar was named the Golden Wheel International Driver of the Year for his overall runner-up finish and for clinching the championship title for NAMSSA-Team Philippines in the 2005 FIM-UAM Asian Supercross Series.

Jao, on the other hand, was handed the 2006 Golden Wheel National Driver of the Year in this event backed up by Casino Filipino, Yokohama, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Denso and San Miguel Corporation.

The nine-time Superbikes Rider of the Year emerged the unanimous choice for his superb feat of bagging five road race crowns last year, namely: the Shell Advance Superbikes Series, the Castrol Underbone Grand Prix, The Teknic Open Grand Prix, the Shell Advance 125 Open and the Teknic Mahimod crowns.

The victories of both Aguilar and Jao came as a fitting recognition and tribute to the grassroots development program of the National Motorcycle Safety and Sports Association or NAMSSA.

"It came as a surprise to us that both the Golden Wheel International and National Drivers of the Year are products of NAMSSA. It’s an encouraging tribute to our efforts and commitment and we vow to discover more future talents who can live up or even surpass the achievements of these two champions," said NAMSSA director and FIM-UAM vice-president Macky Carapiet.

Also given Golden Wheel trophies for their feats in their respective motorsports disciplines were Jody Coseteng for Touring Cars, Michele Bumgarner for Karting, Pepon Marave for Asian Formula Three, Leo Joel Cordero for Drag Racing, Alex Perez for Rallye, Daryl Flores for Slalom and Albert Monte de Ramos of Cagayan de Oro for 4x4 Off-Road Racing.

A special Golden Wheel trophy was also given to Hongkong national Ross Jamison for clinching the Rotax Max Asian Karting Open Championship Series.

Special trophies were handed out by Golden Wheel Foundation chairman Johnny Tan together with Macau Tourism Office-Philippines general manager Narzalina Lim to Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Petron, Denso, Casino Filipino-PCSO, Yokohama Tires and San Miguel Corporation for their unwavering support to motorsports events last year.