Cabrera holds ground in Asian Karting Open

MANILA, Philippines - Gabriel Cabrera topped the time trials then went on to finish fourth in the kickoff leg of the Asian Karting Open Championships ruled by Fil-Aussie Flynn Jackes of TRS at the Kartodromo de Coloane in Macau recently.

Racing abroad for the first time, the 12-year-old Cabrera of Seaoil Kart Wrecker bucked an injury to claim third runner-up honors in the Mini-ROK class despite the absence of a coach and with only his chief mechanic Joesefilo Bariquit in tow.   

He topped the time trials at 1:03.674 to lead a 1-2-3 Phl finish that included Xedrei Daquigan and Jackes in the qualifying heats.

Cabrera rallied from fifth place to second in the final grid while fighting off a lower rib/abdomen injury he sustained from a crash during the finals warm-up. He, however, slipped from second to fourth at the end of the race.  

Cabrera, however, found an unlikely ally in Taiwanese rival Lin Tsen Han, who along with his Andy Racing team, immediately assisted Cabrera as he finally collapsed in pain at the weigh-in area.

“There is no such thing as a broken spirit, only broken bones. But not even that can stop a Filipino karter’s will to win,” said Cabrera as he was whisked off to the Kiang Wu Hospital for emergency medical treatment. 

He returned to the track a few hours later to receive his third runner-up trophy at the awarding ceremonies along with Jackes who bagged the top spot.