VALDERRAMA, Antique , Philippines – Probably half the town population showed up last Sunday to watch Kenneth San Andres win his last three races and crown himself king of the first Evelio Javier International Motocross Championship here.
The 20-year-old San Andres, who started racing when he was 12, kept the huge crowd going with his every move and until he took his victory lap on the 1.8 km roller-coaster track that is expected to host more races in the future.
San Andres carried the checkered flag with one hand and controlled his 250cc bike with the other, smiling endlessly to the crowd that braved the intense summer heat to witness the biggest sporting event the place had ever hosted.
“I’m so happy for the people. I’m so happy with my win,” said the boyish and Chinese-looking San Andres, the newest crowd darling in Valderrama, a small, quiet and lovely town with just a population of over 17,000 spread over 22 barangays.
San Andres was all over his chief rival, Khaliunbold Erdinbileg of Mongolia, in all four races they took part in. The top rider from the Philippines won them all and took top honors in the Pro 125 and Expert Open divisions of the one-day event.
He said it wasn’t easy.
“It was tough to beat Khaliunbold,” San Andres said of his 21-year-old rival, a traffic policeman in Mongolia, and winner of the first leg of the FIM Asian Motocross Series last February in Puerto Princesa, Palawan where San Andres was fourth.
“But I gave it my best and my hard work paid off. He raced with a slight disadvantage but he still put up a tough fight,” said San Andres, who knew Khaliunbold was hurting on his wrists and left knee, because of a crash in Thailand two weeks ago.
“I exploited the situation,” said San Andres, still leading the race for the Rider of the Year plum after six races. He can’t wait for the third leg of the FIM Series scheduled in June in Mongolia after crashing out of the second leg at SM Bicutan last month.
Khaliunbold was gracious in defeat, saying San Andres deserved the victory because he’s truly a great rider. But given enough time to recover, the friendly Mongolian ace will definitely give the Pinoy rider a big run for his money in the next race.
Most of the participants in the race put up by Valderrama Mayor Joyce Roquero and her husband, PCSO director Ray Roquero, travelled two hours by land to Caticlan yesterday for a couple of nights of fun in the island paradise of Boracay.
“After the races, it’s time for some fun and camaraderie,” said Macky Carapiet of the National Motor Sports and Safety Association, the legitimate group tasked to run and supervise motor sports in the country.
“People here in Valderrama will remember this for a long time. We brought in top-notch riders and hopefully we can provide the inspiration for our townsfolk to get into racing such as this,” said the PCSO director, a former sportswriter and town mayor himself.