MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Maico Buncio of YRS-Elf Moto Oil-Yamaha Racing pulled off another big win that firmed up his hold of solo leadership recently in the third leg of the 2010 Enersel Forte Philippine Superbikes Championship Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas.
Buncio, 20, dictated the tempo from start to finish to annex his third straight triumph in this event sponsored by Enersel Forte, Pagcor Sports, MTRT, Aeromed, Inside Racing Magazine and Stoplight TV.
Too bad for Glenn Aguilar of Enersel Forte-Ducati Racing, his plans to stage a big comeback was spoiled by an incident that took him out of the race after two laps in the pre-final, forcing him to start at the tailend of the grid.
But he quickly jumped up to third behind the young Dashi Watanabe at the start of the final race and was running second spot on the third lap.
However, Buncio was already way ahead, hitting the fastest laptime of 1:39.301 to pull away from the pack and secure his victory.
He clocked 13:25.359 or 8.217 seconds ahead of Aguilar who checked in second in the eight-lap race. Watanabe was third and Jolet Jao fourth.
Watanabe captured the Intermediate crown in 13:47.843 over Niño Garcia and John Defensor. Dennis Fajardo ruled the superbikes novice class over Adrian de Leon and Richard Soriano.
Aguilar clinched his third straight victory in the Motard class, wrapping up the six-lap race in 11: 37.950.
Inigo Bilbao came close behind Aguilar, 1.745 seconds shy, while Garcia and Toti Alberto of Enersel Forte-Ducati Racing ended third and fourth.
Bilbao later ruled the superbikes beginners class, finishing the six-lap race in 10:35.473 over Adrian de Leon, Richard Soriano and Carmini Jezreel Fajardo.
Winning the other races were Aries Padiernos and Nikky Roman.