Watanabe eyes 3rd in row in superbikes

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s top riders take center stage this Sunday when the Motorsports Championship Season presented by Petronas hold the third legs of the Pirelli Motorad Superbikes Cup, the FDR Philippine Scooter Racing Championship Series and the FDR Underbone King Championship Series at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Defending champion Dashi Watanabe of Aprilia Grandstar guns for his third straight win against Ducati’s Raniel Resuello in the Superbikes Cup which serves as part of the Motorsports Championship Season presented by Petronas and sanctioned by the Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA).

Reigning Underbone King Nino Fabian, meanwhile, tries to score back-to-back wins in the Underbone series, so does Paul Mark Doblada in the Scooter Series both sanctioned by the Underbone and Scooters Racing Association (USRA).

Backers of the event are Petronas with Racing Beat @ Wave 89.1, Inside Motoring @ dzRJ810khz and Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ dzME 1530 as media partners.

Also on tap are the Ducati Cup, Moto IR, Honda Dash and Honda Beat One Make Race and MTRT Club Race.

Watanabe is expected to flash the form he showed in dominating the first two legs as he tries to firm up his hold of the solo lead.

But Resuello is out to foil his bid along with Marvin Mangulabnan, Anthony Roman, Johnlery Enriquez, Ducati’s Jussi Hoikka, Jericho Arnaiz, Lawrence Macalinao and Rizaldy Canare.

John Defensor also hopes to score a repeat in the Superbikes Master class and steer Ducati Racing to another 1-2-3 sweep with Charles Nolasco and Jay Carrion.