Buncio cops 3 titles in superbike series

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion and Mandaluyong City pride Maico Buncio of Elf Moto Oil-YRS Racing clinched three wins and a runner-up finish recently in the third leg of the 2009 BRC Superbikes Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

The 20-year-old Buncio, backed up by Elf-Moto Motorcycle Oils, Motoworld, Denso Spark Plugs, Dunlop Japan, BPI Family Savings Bank, GS Battery, Accel, Fast Lane and YRS Motorcycle Modifications, swept archrival Glenn Aguilar anew in the Superbikes Championship. He did it with record-breaking 1:37.828.

Aside from his Superbikes feat, he also captured the 130cc Open crown and the 150cc runner-up honors in the 2009 Magnolia Health Tea Philippine Underbone King Championships.

With the win, Buncio fortified his bid for a three-peat Superbikes crown with 147 points or a 12-point advantage over Aguilar.

“I’m grateful that the Lord has given me his blessings in my racing career this season and I couldn’t have done it without my sponsors, my wonderful parents and supporters,” said Buncio, referring to Sonny Dee Mercado from US, Lolai Tan, particularly Golden Boys Motorcycle Club who came all the way from Cavite and Bicol.

He controlled the tempo from start to finish, taking a huge lead over Aguilar during the first five laps before slowing down to conserve his tires. He completed the 10-lap Race 5 in 16 minutes and 22.370 seconds or a 1.748 lead over Aguilar.

Aguilar made a desperate attempt on the first corner to bounce back in Race 6 as he took the lead at the start. But the attempt almost backfired on him as he nearly figured in a spin-out as Buncio wrested the lead and held on to his post from thereon.

He wrapped up the afternoon race in 16:27.951.