No one ever saw them coming.. Everyone at the Batangas Racing Circuit was surprised and simply was at awe when Tj Alberto of Ducati Philippines put on a dazzling performance and display of brilliant racing when he took the top spot from veteran expert riders of the fastest grid of the country yesterday at the opening round of the Philippine Superbike Championships Batangas Racing Circuit.
Tj Alberto, making his debut race as the the youngest racer in the Expert Class of the PSBK2016, shocked everybody, racing fans and even fellow racers alike, when he clocked as the fastest during the Qualifying Time Trials and took the SuperPole, Saturday afternoon, leading a fractions of a second faster than top contenders and expert rider Dashi Watanabe of Kawasaki – MotoradWRD and BMWs Marvin Mangulabnan.
Come race day, everyone wanted to see if TJ Alberto has what it takes to hold his pole position against these top seasoned veteran riders in the grid.
And in front of Everyone, the new kid on the block took a commanding lead from the 2 top riders of the country Mangulabnan and Watanabe, the 1st lap to the last lap of Pre-Final Race (Race 1 ) of the PSBK2016 and to the astonishment, cheer and awe of every one at BRC. While Marvin Mangulabnan was able to take Watanabe’s position at the Casino area on the last lap and finish on the 2nd spot and followed by Watanabe on the 3rd place.
Meanwhile the newest Alberto on the PSBK2106 grid, racing the Novice/Intermediate Class also surprised everyone as he made it as the 4th overall fastest in QTT last Saturday, Troy Alberto the rookie and youngest rider onn the PSBK2016 landed and started from the 2nd row of the fastest grid in the country.
To everyone’s admiration Troy Alberto of Ducati – Eneos Racing, the rookie, on his debut in Superbike Racing, took 1st place in race 1 of the PSBK-Novice Class ahead of Kenneth Torres of Kawasaki MotoradWRD and JC Villanueva of ATAT Racing Team, and 2nd place in the Intermediate Class next to his brother Tj Alberto whom also is in the Intermediate/Expert Class.
While Toti Alberto, of Ducati=Bacchus, the Red Baron himself, never undone, took 2nd place in the Master Class of the PSBK, next to Cong. Ronald Singson of BMW-Partas Racing followed by ATATs Jay Carrion finishing 3rd place.
As riders took to the grid for the Final Race of the 1st leg of the PSBK2016 (Race 2) everyone was anxious to see if TJ Alberto could hold his lead and how he will manage with the state of his tires, as each racers were limited to only 2 sets of Pirelli Super Corsa slick tires for race 1 and 2 and QTT, adding up to the challenges of the PSBK2016.
Upon start and on the 2nd corner of BRC, Dashi Watanabe and his Kawasaki ZX10R, made their move on TJ Alberto, going wide and diving to take the lead, from TJ and followed closely by Marvin Mangulabnan on the BMW s1000RR. Everybody really thought that the race would finish that way. as Watanabe lead the way and breaking away from the 2nd to around the 6th lap.
Then suddenly the Panigale 1199R of TJ Alberto of Ducati-Bacchus seemed to have new found power as it easily closed the gap between him and race leader Dashi testing him in every corner always ready to pass.
With skillful stroke of racing mastery, TJ Alberto and his Ducati Panigale 1199R passed Dashi Watanabe on the 7th lap, and again took on the lead, surprisingly putting some breakaway distance from Watanabe followed closely by Mangulabnan.
And to everyones cheer, astonishment, awe.. TJ Alberto made his debut in the expert class a double win against the fastest riders in the country, unexpectedly sealing his place as one of the top contenders for the 2016PSBK Champonship. While TJ was followed by Kawasaki’s Dashi Watanabe on 2nd place and BMW’s Marvin Mangulabnan finishing 3rd place.
TJ, Dashi and Marvin, was pushing the record laps to 1:35s in BRC
Troy Alberto of Ducati-Eneos and his Panigale1199R on the Novice Class remained unchallenged as the top Novice Rider followed by Ralph Kenneth Torres of Kawasaki MotoradWRD Racing and Paul Mark Doblada of Ducati-Eneos, and 2nd to TJ Alberto on the Intermediate Class. While Toti Alberto took the second spot on the Master Class, and Jay Carrion of ATAT finishing 3rd. while Novice Class racer JC Villanueva of ATAT had to retire from the race due to engine problems on his bike.
“ They just put on a very inspiring example of the strength of family, and displayed the prowess of the Ducati Line..” – some Race Fans on Club200 shirts
The Pirelli Cup HeavyWeight Class was not even spared by the Ducati Panigale dominance as Ducatistis Manuel Chu of Angeles Ducati Club, Richard Sahagun of ATAT Racing Team, Rg Romero of Club 200 and on the Middle Weight Class, Regi Maann of SBK followed PhilKoreaMoto’s Jason Park and Mark Sy-Peng of ATAT took the top positions of the 1st race saturday.
Club 200s Rg Romero shined and took the 1st place in Race 2 followed by Richard Sahagun of ATAT and Regi Maann of SBK.
It was ATAT’s Richard Sahagun who took the overall win for the 1st leg of the Pirelli Cup 2016 HW Class, followed by Rg Romero and Kawasaki’s Marvin Casper Diem finished 3rd.
Truly a Scarlet Red 1st Round of the Philippine Superbike Championships 2016, and Ducati Philippines measuring up to its standing as a True.. Red.. Championship Team..Congrats! Forza Ducati.
Congratulations to all the winners, racers, teams, organizers and sponsors and our race officials. – Joey Storm Rivero
Note:
The 2015 PSBK Champion Raniel Resuello of WHEELTEK RGUTZ Racing Team sustained slight injuries to his left arm when he crashed during free practice runs Saturday morning. Resuello, still made a few laps starting from behind the grid in both race 1 and race 2 to make points for the 1st leg of the Championship Series, while he looks forward to round 2 of the PSBK2016 come June.