Watanabe superbikes champ

ROSARIO, Batangas, Philippines – Young rider Dashi Watanabe of Aprilia Racing surivived the  tough stand of his archrivals to capture his second straight victory recently in the second leg of the 2013 Bridgestone Philippine Superbikes Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

With his unbeaten 1:39 mark in the qualifying time trials, the young Fil-Japanese aboard his Aprilia upstaged his rivals with consistency and determination to reign anew in the Superbikes Open class.

Watanabe with his Aprilia and defending champion Raniel Resuello aboard a 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale were the main protagonists anew,  but this time, Watanabe opted to gain distance early in the race, sustaining a fast 1:39 laptime while almost going flat out at the curves to control the front seat coast-to-coast.

Though the Fil-Japanese was nearly five seconds ahead midway, Raniel refused to yield as he stepped on the gas to catch up with his rival and even posted the day’s fastest laptime of 1:39.087.

But Resuello’s move backfired as his speed was too fast to handle that he overshot the corner at the backstretch resulting in a broken right handle bar that forced his early exit with just two laps to go.

Watanabe went on to claim the checquered flag, completing the nine-lap race in 16:01.391 or nearly 16 seconds ahead of Marvin Mangulabnan of HGM who copped the runner-up crown over Petronas rider Benjo Mendoza.

Anthony Roman and Team Ducati’s Mikko Mannerkorpi ended fourth and fifth, respectively.

Team Ducati Philippines again pulled off a 1-2-3 finish in the Superbikes Masters Open with Toti Alberto clinching his second straight victory and John Defensor and Charles Nolasco claiming the runner-up and third place honors, respectively.

The event,  part of the 2013 Petronas Philippine Motorsports Championships Season, is sanctioned by Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA) with the support of Bridgestone as the official Superbikes tires and media partners Racing Beat @ Wave 89.1, Inside Motoring @ DZRJ810khz and Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ DZME 1530.