San Andres scores another twin-kill

MANILA, Philippines - JBS-Kawasaki Motocross Team’s Kenneth San Andres bounced back from two runner-up finishes in the first heat of the Pro Open and Pro 125 and ruled both categories in the 2013 NAMSSA National Motocross Development Program’s sixth leg at the Speedworld Motocross Circuit, SM Bicutan, Parañaque City.

San Andres bucked a spill in the morning heat of the Pro 125 on the slippery and muddy track where he yielded the pole position to veteran Bebet dela Cruz. He had another runner-up finish in the premier Pro Open despite racing with a blurred vision after mud seeped into his eyegear.

But San Andres re-stamped his class in the afternoon races, beating Dela Cruz and eventual third placer Ralph Ramento in both the Pro Open and 125 with the Valenzuela native more than making up for his unfortunate morning heats to win by virtually a mile.

“I really wanted to win the bigger afternoon races and went out of my way to push harder,” said San Andres, the reigning NAMSSA Philippine National Motocross Rider of the Year.

San Andres, backed by Oakley Philippines, Fox Racing, Go Pro, Leat neck brace, Bridgestone Tires, Motul Philippines, Polisport, Foilacar Manila, Kia Global, R33 Car Exchange, HJC Helmet, Laus Auto Group and P. Boys, is actually coming off a sweep of both the Pro Open and Pro 125 categories of the national series’ Round 5, also at the Speedworld.

“It’s (sweep) something that doesn’t fall in your lap. You have to work hard for it. My rivals are no pushovers. You just have to be aggressive every single race, otherwise, the field will destroy you,” said San Andres.

Next stop for San Andres, the motocross awardee of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) last year, is the International Motorcycle Championships in Cheongsong, Korea on Oct. 27.