Granstar Motors backs Cannonball 1000

MANILA, Philippines - Granstar Motors and Industrial Corp., distributor of Vespa, Aprilia, KTM, MV Agusta and Husqvarna motorcycles in the Philippines, joined as one of Cannonball 1000’s major sponsors.

Fabian Go, president and chief Executive officer of Granstar Motors, met with Joey Almeda, head organizer of the Cannonball 1000, to finalize the agreement between the two parties.

Granstar Motors has pledged to field in two groups of 10 to ride with only one-make motorcycles. The group class invites teams of 10 riders to enlist in either the Cannonball 1000 route or the Cannonball 500 route. This is open to motorcycles and scooters of all displacements, and special awards will be given to teams with only one make.

Participants drive through a route of over 1,000 km under a time limit of only 24 hours. The day-long journey starts from the Widus Hotel and Casino in Clark Pampanga on the night of Jan. 9. Participants then pass through Baloc, Ilagan, Tuguegarao, Aparri, Pagudpud, Laoag, Vigan, La Union, Baguio, and Tarlac and back to Clark.

The event has already lured some prominent personalities, such as Danby Henares, host of the TV show Xtreme Riders, seasoned long-distance Fil-Am rider Rene Marquez, GMA Kapuso star Richard Gutierrez, actresses Diana Zubiri and Jackie Rice, chef Andrew Lopez and host/model Andy Smith.