Watanabe rules Superbikes leg

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Dashi Watanabe of Aprilia Grandstar put on another dominating performance to rule the kickoff leg of the 2014 Pirelli Superbikes Championship Series and set in motion his title-retetnion bid at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Batangas recently.

The Aprilia top gun went on a quick start to dictate the tempo, increasing his lead lap after lap en route to posting a 19-minute, 7.632-second clocking over 12 laps and besting Ducati franchise rider Raniel Resuello, by 17.958 seconds.

New Aprilia Grandstar recruit and former Underbone King Anthony took third place while Rizaldy Canare and Toti Alberto wound up fourth and fifth, respectively, in the event sanctioned by the Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA) and sponsored by Petronas, and media partners Racing Beat @ Wave 89.1, Inside Motoring @ DZRJ810khz and Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ DZME 1530.

After posting the fastest 1:37.5 in the time trial to claim the pole position, Watanabe struggled after running without rear brakes that chopped his laptime down by almost a second following a 1:38.1 clocking in the actual race.

But Watanabe fought back and drew inspiration from the Aprilia crowd, taking command of the race en route to victory.

 â€œWe were totally surprised that the atmosphere was more like watching the FIM Superbike World Championships. We’re happy that our initial venture sparked more intense action with the riders posting better times and hopefully steer Philippine Superbikes to greater heights,” said Philip Ang, president of Pirelli local distributing company Performance Parts Corp.

Sharing the limelight with Watanabe were Toti Alberto who pivoted Ducati Racing’s 1-2-3 sweep in the Superbikes Master class together with runner-up John Defensor and third placer Charles Nolasco; Rizaldy Canare who ruled the Superbikes Intermediate division over Johnlery Enriquez and Ducati’s Jussi Hoikka; and Enriquez who emerged the Superbikes Novice champion over Ducati’s TJ Alberto and Tracy Soyangco.

Actor Dingdong Dantes, meanwhile, finished runner-up honors behind Rep. Ronald Singson in the Ducati Cup Celebrity class while Richard Gutierrez wound  up fourth behind third placer Bullet Jalosjos.

Dantes also finished third in the Ducati Cup Beginners behind champion Redge Barilla and runner-up Ronald Singson with Gutierrez claiming fifth place.

Raniel Resuello emerged the overall champion of the Ducati Cup Open Class while TJ Alberto clinched two titles, winning the Ducati Cup Novice and the Ducati Cup Intermediate division.

Toti Alberto also copped the Ducati Master crown over John Defensor and Miguel Bichara.

Hoikka also emerged overall champion of the 5th K58 Cup ruling the Open class over Jericho Arnaiz and Toti Alberto.

Arnaiz copped the Class A crown; TJ Alberto claimed the Class B title while Ramirez bagged the Class C honors.

In the Ducati Group 2, Mark Marmol topped the Novice division while Monty Mortimer captured the Super Legends plum over Rey Relativo and Gerard Aycardo.

Clint Nolasco emerged as Naked A champion while Geovannie Abella took the Naked B crown.

Rizaldy Canare won the first race over Anthony Roman and Herbert Lopez while Gio Adriano prevailed in Moto IR2 over Robert Matthew Ramos and Edmar Quiambao.

Meanwhile, the next leg is set May 17-18, also at the Batangas Racing Circuit. For details, contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 729-72 41-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766, Mobile # 0922 8858410 or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ Batangas Racing Circuit or check out our website www.batangasracingcircuit.org.