Doblada's escape act gives Suzuki surprise victory

MANILA, Philippines – Suzuki pulled off the first big victory of the season following the come-from-behind win of Paul Mark Doblada over Honda’s Herbert Lopez recently in the 2009 Magnolia Health Tea Philippine Underbone King Championships at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas.

Lopez was in control of the lead at the final curve going to the finish line but Doblada maximized the power of his Suzuki to slip past his Honda rival and claim the 115cc Open victory.

The event is sanctioned by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (NAMSSA) and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Magnolia Health Tea, San Mig Coffee, Aeromed, Inside Racing and Pagcor.

Doblada wrapped up the six-lap race in 12 minutes, 20.474 seconds or just a hairline 0.160 of a second ahead of Lopez.

He likewise topped the 115 Sports Production class over Jeff Chan and Dexter Daquigan.

Defending champion Maico Buncio of Elf-Yamaha-YRS Racing and archrival Glenn Aguilar of Yellowcab-Ducati-Access Plus split honors in the 2009 BRC Superbikes Series.

Buncio grabbed the lead from Aguilar on the third lap and controlled the tempo from thereon to rule Round 1 with a time of 16:21.674 or 4.55 seconds ahead of Aguilar.

But bike problems hounded Buncio in Round 2, forcing him to slow down on the fourth lap and allowing Aguilar to pull ahead and win the race in 15:22.044 or a far 28.383 seconds ahead of the former.

Dashi Watanabe of Watanabe Racing Team made an impressive debut in Superbikes, finishing third behind Buncio and Aguilar in both races, and likewise bagged the Superbikes Novice crown over Ryan Medina and fellow newcomer Raniel Resuello.

Winning the other races in the 2009 Magnolia Health Tea Philippine Underbone King Championships were Paolo Labador and Fil-Japanese Masato Fernando.

Labador made his mark winning the 115-cc Super Stock class clocking 2:28.066 over Michael Cortez and Michael Altamira while Fernando turned back Maico Buncio in the premiere 150-cc Open division.

Sharing the limelight in the BRC Superbikes were Toti Alberto of Yellowcab-Ducati-Access Plus, Aries Padiernos and Victor Laude of Tiger Motorcycles.

Alberto copped the Superbikes Masters title over Jayson Maligaya and George Gerard, and likewise split honors with Gerard in the Motard division.