Buncio wins underbone MTRT crown

MANILA, Philippines - Maico Buncio of YRS-Elf Moto Oil-Yamaha fought back in the final race to capture the MTRT 180cc crown in the Philippine Underbone King Championship series at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga recently.

Buncio battled back from sixth place in the grid following a disappointing run in the pre-finals of the event that drew 18 riders.

He moved up to fourth at the start of the race and threatened in the second lap behind Cassey Ng, who led until the third lap.

Buncio eventually grabbed the lead in the fourth and never looked back, topping the race in seven minutes and 23.646 seconds or 0.617 of a second ahead of veteran Benjo Mendoza, who sneaked past Ng in the final lap to snatch the runner-up honors.

Ng eventually finished third while Ivan Santiago and Jeff Chan wound up fourth and fifth, respectively in the race sponsored by MTRT and Pagcor Sports and supported by Enercel Forte, Aeromed, Stoplight TV and Inside Racing Magazine.

Buncio actually ruled three of the five Underbone races. Aside from the 180cc, Automatic Scooter, he likewise bagged the titles in the premiere 150cc Open class and the 130 cc Open.

In the 150cc Open, he repulsed defending Underbone King Jaime Barcial as he finished the six-lap race in six minutes and 29.960 seconds or just 0.866 of a second ahead.