ROSARIO, Batangas, Philippines – Raniel Resuello of Kawasaki-Castrol-Motolite posted another twin romp as he ruled the third leg of the Bridgestone Philippine Superbikes Championships to bolster his bid for the overall crown at the Batangas Racing Circuit here.
Resuello, 21, pulled away from the start and dominated the race to the finish to capture both the Superbikes Expert and Intermediate crowns in the event sanctioned by Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA) with Bridgestone as the official Superbikes tires.
Topping the time trials with 1:45.588, he pushed his Kawasaki Superbike’s limit to a faster laptime of 1:45.423 on the third lap and stretch the gap over his rivals before wrapping up the 10-lap race in 17 minutes and 16.052 seconds or 12.861 seconds ahead of Marvin Mangulabnan.
Toti Alberto of Access Plus-Ducati checked in third while John Defensor and Anthony Roman placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Resuello clinched the Superbikes Expert crown over runner-up Alberto and third placer Defensor and likewise claimed the Intermediate title over Mangulabnan and Roman.
Alberto went on to cop the Superbikes Masters Open title over Defensor and Edelberto del Rosario while Mangulabnan bagged the Superbikes Novice plum over Roman and Erwin Agra.
With the win, Resuello firmed up his hold of the solo lead with 72 points, 14 ahead of Roman who tallied 58 points. Alberto and Mangulabnan pooled 55 and 54 points, respectively while Defensor in fifth overall with 52.
But in the Intermediate class, Resuello assembled 47 points with Roman and Mangulabnan just behind with 42 and 38 points, respectively.
Other winners were Aries, who copped his third consecutive win in the 400cc Expert class over Ernanie Alcantara and Marlone Teng; and Tito del Rosario who upstaged Jose Marlon Pabiton in the 400cc Novice division.
The next leg is set Aug. 5 at the Clark International Speedway. For details, contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 729-72 41-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766, Mobile # 0922 8858410 or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ Batangas Racing Circuit.