MANILA, Philippines - Cebuano rider Jonjon Adlawan outmaneuvered fancied Glenn Aguilar in their spirited battle for moto supremacy, pulling off a thrilling victory in the Kopiko Astig 3-in-One Supercross Series at the Dumaguete Business Park in Dumaguete City recently.
Adlawan battled Aguilar in a neck-and-neck duel in the first heat then the Team Kopiko skipper slipped past the KTM Access Plus bet in the second heat to hack out the win in the Pro Open (450cc) before a wildly-cheering 30,000 fans at the compact track.
It was the 21-year-old Adlawan’s first win over Aguilar, who dominated the second leg in Bais and the third in Bacolod. Adlawan earned 25 points for his feat, thus boosting his bid for the Rider of the Year award.
Bornok Mangosong of Atong Racing placed third followed by Don-Don Yuzon and Ajubenike Abellar.
Aguilar, however, continued to stamp his class in the Pro Lites (250 cc), holding off Adlawan anew before their climactic tussle in the Pro Open. Aguilar has won the Pro Lites in three of the series’ first four legs. The next leg of the Kopiko Astig 3-in-One Supercross Series 2013 will be held in Dipolog City on May 18-19.
In other races, 16-year-old Jacob Orbe topped the Novice Open division to add the title to his Intermediate division win.
Jed Luna claimed the Local Enduro crown while Christopher Jules Bandigan beat the field in the Beginner ‘s Open category.
Felson Ray Baculpo, 14, topped the popular Underbone division.
A total of 145 riders, the second-most in the series, took part in the race which staked over P 500,000 in prizes.
Organizers of the next leg in Dipolog, meanwhile, promised a banner field of over 200 riders, including entries from Mindanao, led by eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s Team Pacquiao.