Motocross is back in San Remigio

CEBU, Philippines —  After a two-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, exciting motocross action is back in San Remigio town, north of Cebu with the staging of the 22nd Lou Ornopia Motocross Cup on April 10 at the sprawling MS Motosuit Motorsports Park in Barangay Calambua.

In September last year, esteemed Cebuano businessman-sportsman Lou Ornopia launched his multi-sport haven in an effort to breath life back into Cebu motorsports while giving livelihood at the same time to residents in their area during these hard times.

Stretching a total of 2.3 kilometers at the heart of a 10-hectare property, the Motorsports Park features a specially-designed track, a first of its kind in Cebu, that caters to an array of sporting disciplines ranging from rally driving up to motocross racing and mountain biking.

Unfortunately because of the government restrictions caused by the new variants of the deadly coronavirus that was compounded by the onslaught of super typhoon of Odette, Ornopia wasn’t able to hold even just a single activity.

Now that things are getting back to normal with the province placed under the most relaxed alert level, Ornopia immediately set his plans in motion centered at the brand-new training ground of racing enthusiasts in this side of the country.

“Nalipay gyud ko nga Alert Level 1 nata. Mapadagan na gyud nato ang atoang mga plano apil na  niini ang paghimo sa Calambua (San Remigio) nga motocross capital sa Cebu,” said Ornopia, who was once honored as “Sportsman of the Year” by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu for his passion and selfless dedication in the promotion of motocross.

Ornopia said their undertaking next month also serves as a reunion of sort for all the riders across the Visayas and Mindanao region because it’s been a long time since they had their last race.

“Mahug sab ni nga reunion sa atong mga riders nga supportive kaayo sa atong mga races over the years. Wala gyud ta nila biyai ug naa sila kanunay nato through thick and thin. Ang nakanindot kay karibal man tuod sila sa racetrack but they treat each other as friends and as one family,” said Ornopia.

“Daghan na sab kaayo ang naghinam-hinam nga makalumba og balik mao nang atong paninguhaon nga regular na tang maka-hold og events matag semana,”Ornopia continued.

“Kadtong gusto mo-test drive ug mosinati sa kaanindot sa atong motorsports park, puyde na silang mobisita dire sa among dapit. Basta ang ako lang, observe gihapon ta sa tanang minimum health protocols. Dili ta mokompiyansa kay kining virus naa pa.”

Ornopia looks forward with zest and enthusiasm knowing that all his efforts and sacrifices will pay off soon.

“Daghan kaayo ta og mga plano. I hope through this, maka-inspire ta sa mga kabatan-onan nga mosuway og motocross ug eventually maka-produce ta og national ug international-caliber riders sa umaabot,” said Ornopia. “Labaw sa tanan, tumong nato nga mapakita ang kaanindot sa among lugar, mapalambo ang turismo sa among dapit ug makahatag og kapanginabuhian sa mga tawo pinaagi niining atong gibuhat.”