Rubi takes first title of 2008

He fell, rolled like a ball and almost got lapped; but Pepo Rubi overcame all that to rule the kick-off leg of the 2008 MS Motosuit Motocross Series in Sitio Tuburan, Jubay, Lilo-an, the other day.

Rubi won the Barangay Captain Manuel Wagas Cup over equally determined riders Dondon Yuson and Wilson Pamorca.

In the third lap, Rubi suffered a fall that enabled Yuson to gain the lead. Fortunately, Rubi was able to start his bike and gave chase.

Yuson was on his way to victory in the last lap, with just 10 meters to the finish, when he miscalculated a jump and fell on muddy ground. Yuson tried to start his bike but the engine conked out.

Rubi saw his opportunity and grabbed it.

Bad luck befell reigning Rider of the Year, Juvanni Abellar and his brother Jubenile.  Both didn’t finish the race. Juvanni stopped right after the first lap while Jubenile got into trouble in the third lap while racing neck-to-neck with Rubi.

The other winners in the first race of 2008 were Pamorca, Sanchez, Desbaro, Ledesma, Famador, Flores, and Galaura.

Pamorca topped the intermediate title over the more favored Paulo Inoc and Jubenila Abellar.

Sanchez started the year with a bang with titles in the open enduro and beginner’s production classes. He beat Michael Desbaro and Bonnie Bustillo in the enduro contest, and then beat Ayen Ledesma and John Flores in the beginner’s production class.

Desbaro, however, came back to avenge his loss to Sanchez by outsmarting the latter in the local enduro with Dario Labor finishing third.

Ledesma, for his part, went home with the novice production title, after winning over John Flores.

Adonis Famador became the second rider to win two titles after topping the executive A and executive B races. Famador beat the likes of Siegfred Ornopia, Jun Enriquez and Monching Povadora.

Butch Flores took the measure of Glen Ocan and Jerry Sicad to win the executive C class. Keith Galura, meanwhile, took the mini class title, beating Rey Quirol and Jojo Enriquez.

Lou Ornopia organized the event with the support of Cebu Progress Marketing, Reliance Motor Sales, American Feeds, 888 Header Core Muffler Tech, RMO Motorparts, Keiz BJ Motor Sales, MS Digital Prints, MS Motosuit Carsuits, Barangay Captain Manuel Wagas and his friends and Disston Premium Paints. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol