Buncio achieves 4-peat in superbikes

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Maico Buncio wound up the season with another impressive sweep to capture a milestone four-peat crown recently at the close of the 2010 Enersel Forte Philippine Superbikes Championship Series at the Clark International Speedway.

His exceptional feat seals Buncio’s niche in Philippine motorcycling history. At age 21, he’s yet the youngest rider to win a fourth straight Superbikes Open plum in this event sponsored by Enersel Forte, Pagcor Sports, MTRT, Aeromed, Inside Racing Magazine and Stoplight TV.

Wrapping up the series with 294 points, Buncio was unstoppable in the seven-lap pre-final race as he controlled the tempo from start to finish, clocking 14 minutes, 0.146 seconds.

Dashi Watanabe checked in 14.014 seconds later to claim the runner-up finish after passing Glenn Aguilar of Enersel Forte-Ducati Racing with two laps to go.

Buncio started slow in the rain-soaked afternoon final race but quickly wrested the lead from Aguilar on the second lap for good.

He completed the five-lap race in 11 minutes, 5.097 seconds or 9.846 seconds ahead of runner-up Aguilar with Watanabe settling for third place.

Aguilar took overall runner-up honors with 244 points as he bagged the Motard Expert title with a perfect season score of 250 points. Teammate Toti Alberto finished second overall with 208 while Allan Suansing, Mario Nino Garcia and Benjo Mendoza ended third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Watanabe wound up third overall in the Superbikes Open with 224 as he eventually bagged the Intermediate crown with 272 points over John Defensor (234) and Garcia (226).

Monty Mortimer likewise pulled a sweep in the Novice class but it was Dennis Fajardo who copped the overall crown with 233 points despite his fifth place finish.

Winning the other titles were Inigo Bilbao, Jolet Jao, Nikky Roman and Aries Padiernos.

Bilbao won the Superbikes Beginners crown with 241 points up against Marlon Bagtang and Richard Soriano, and also the Motard Novice diadem over Garcia and Dondon Yuzon.

Jao took the Superbikes Masters plum over John Defensor and Toti Alberto while Roman emerged champion in the 400cc Novice division against Marlone Teng and Peter Kim.

Padiernos, on the other hand, reigned supreme as he captured the 400cc Unlimited title over Ernani Alcantara and Resty Lucas.

Equally exciting was the Honda Beat Cup where Lyndon Requilme prevailed over Jeffrey Anthony Teopengco and Mark Capoy.

 For further details, interested parties may log on at www.batangasracingcircuit.com or contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 817-2241, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766.