Bartolome compiled a 5:06.02 clocking to edge Orly Infante of San Jose City Off-Roaders and win the fourth and final leg of the event, which is also known as the Caltex Delo 4x4 Extreme Challenge.
With a strong performance in the Time-C category, where he clocked 2:41:21, Bartolome bested 19 other riders in the event, co-presented by Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., Goodyear Phils. and Tide, with 199 Off-Road house and Tide/Campershellers as gold sponsors.
Infante managed to complete the course in the Time-C category at 2:57.81 for a 5:35.99 total as he beat Tide-Cagayan de Oro’s Agustin Macmang for second place, Macmang settled for third with a time of 5:37.61.
"Maganda ’yung tinakbo kong race kanina kaya sinuwerteng manalo. Magagaling din sina Orly (Infante) at Agustin (Macmang) kaya hindi rin ako nagpabaya sa last race," Bartolome said. "Marami ring magagaling na sumali sa tournament na ito kaya dapat pagbutihin sa simula pa lang."
Gempesaw of 4Wheelers Davao took fourth place with a total time of 5:46.66 while two campaigners from Angeles City 4Wheelers got the next two positions.
Despite his fourth-place finish, Gempesaw was later named Off-Roader of the Year by the organizing National Associations of Filipino Off-Roaders (NAsFOR), headed by its president Ramon To-ong, due to his consistent performance in the three previous legs.
Tide-CDO was declared overall team champion in this off-road event, hosted by the Manila Off-Road Inc. (MORI).
Dante Dungca and Brian Evaristo timed 5:47.98 and 5:50.21, respectively, in placing fifth and sixth places in the event that was attended by Sen. Gregorio Honasan.
"We will rotate the locations of the competitions to give other provinces a chance to host this kind of competition. I believe that we had a better organization of the race this year because of the sponsor’ support and the crowd attendance as they were very enthusiastic on the riders," said MORI president Brian Diaz.
Other major sponsors of the three-day event are 103.5 K-Lite, RX 93.1, Auto Review, Sulpicio Lines, Denso, Bilstein and Motolite, with Mother’s Wax, 4x4 Magazine, Downey Off-Road Mfg. Phils., Pro Comp, Calmini Manufacturing, WARN, Hella-Phils. Inc. and Powerbikes as the minor sponsors.