World’s No. 6 rider joins Kopiko Supercross

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Nikolaj Larsen of Denmark, the sixth-ranked motocross rider in the world,  raises the level of competitiveness in the inaugural leg of the Kopiko Astig 3-in-One Supercross Series 2013 as he leads competitors in the event which fires off today at the South Road Properties here.

Fresh from his sixth place finish in the World Championship MX2, the 22-year-old Larsen banners the three-man J-O team which is expected to put the local riders to a tough test. Joining the three-time Danish champion are  Mathias Jorgensen, the 2012 Danish Rider of the Year, and 19-year-old Sebastian Kaergaard, who holds the distinction of being the youngest ever A-1 rider in the history of Denmark back in 2009.

Two other foreign riders have also flown to Cebu to race in the event, the start of a 12-race series which will take them all over the country.

More than 40 teams have registered for the event, including 10 from Mindanao led by Team Pacquiao, a crew assembled by Buboy Fernandez, trainer of eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

“We were only expecting more than 20 teams, but the turnout has been overwhelming,” said Jonas Adlawan, president of the organizing Man and Machine Racing Promotions. “For them to come all the way here and join our race challenges our riders to be even better.”

Expected to challenge the Danes are top Filipino riders Glenn Aguilar, Jovie Saulog, Jonjon Adlawan, and a handful of others.

Over P 500,000 in prizes are at stake in 15 categories in the kickoff leg of the series, including the International category and a Ladies race. Riders from as young as five years have been practicing at the international-standard track, which was repaired yesterday after a late-night downpour the night before.

The foreign riders were impressed with the newly built track, which features several challenging jumps, but expressed concern that the heat might affect their endurance since it was snowing in Denmark when they left.

Local riders will participate in each race to accumulate points for the Rider of the Year Award to be handed out at the end of the series. Foreign riders are only competing in International categories organized for the specific legs they will join.

From Cebu, the Kopiko Astig 3-in-One Supercross 2013 moves to Bais, Negros Oriental in February. The series will also stage races in Bacolod, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Roxas City, Ormoc and Luzon.