MANILA, Philippines - Arlan dela Cruz of JVT Racing and Rizaldy Canare humbled their fancied rivals as they topped their respective events in the fourth leg of the Philippine Scooter Racing Championships and the Philippine Underbone King Championships at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga recently.
Dela Cruz nipped teammate Miko Erich Montano in a photo finish in the Scooter championship while Canare rallied in the final two laps to score a big upset in the Underbone tilt in races sanctioned by the Underbone and Scooters Racing Association (USRA) and backed by FDR as the official tires.
Montano actually led Dela Cruz, who started fourth, as they battled MTRT bets Paul Mark Doblada, who controlled the first three laps, and Cassey Ng in a tight, spirited duel.
But in the main straight approaching the finish line, Dela Cruz came side by side with Montano and instead decided to go for the victory.
Dela Cruz wrapped up the 12-lap race in 15 minutes and 47.701 seconds, just 0.012 of a second ahead of Montano. Ng checked in 12.954 seconds for third while Josh Reuben Tan and Doblada wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.
Canare, on the other hand, slugged it out with defending champion Anthony Roman and Marvin Mangulabnan in a showdown of skills and strategy as they alternately held the top spot.
Roman wrested the lead from Canare in the ninth lap but the latter regained the top spot for good with two laps to go to register the win. He completed the 12-lap race in 14:19.889, just 0.065 of a second ahead of Roman.
Mangulabnan checked in third 0.228 of a second behind while Niño Fabian and Tracy Soyangco finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
MTRT riders James Barcial and Ralph Kenneth Torres, meanwhile, sealed a 1-2 finish in the 160cc Scooters class over top favorite Montano.
Despite the setback, Montano remained in the lead in the 180cc Scooters with 94 points against Dela Cruz (88 pts.) and Benjo Mendoza (70 pts.) and in the 160cc. division with 95 points against Marvin Marquez (75 pts.) and Romer Corbe (62 pts.).
Roman also stayed in command in the Underbone King race with 89 points, 10 points ahead of Mangulabnan (79) and another point up on Fabian (78).