Yamaha PH racing team's campaign starts strong

MANILA: Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH) started its motorsport campaign strong as two of its riders for this year’s Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) immediately ended at the podium.

Donning the country’s colors, McKinley Kyle Paz (under Yamaha Tekhne Racing Team Asia in SS600) and April King Mascardo (racing for UMA MMR Yamaha Philippines Racing Team in UB150) both finished at the third spot in one of the two races for the initial round of the racing series.

Per YMPH, the victories showed the “efficiency of an upgraded racing program to further develop riders and machines to compete at the highest level and create champions.” 

The Japanese motorcycle marque’s local arm noted that Paz’ third-place win serves as a trailblazing accolade for the country and him as the honor marks the first-ever podium finish by a Filipino in the said division.

After an average Race 1 (and finishing ninth), the of the 22-year-old racer stunned spectators and competitors on how he came through Race 2 unscathed and at the podium.

“Pagtawid ko ng finish line, ‘Di ako makapaniwala. Matagal ko pinangarap to yung maka-podium sa 600. Matagal ko pinangarap to kaya pag tawid na pagtawid ko, kusa na ako naiyak (When I crossed the finish line, I couldn't believe it. I’ve been hoping to be at the podium in the 600 division for a long time now. I was really dreaming about this so when I crossed [the finish line>, tears just started to flow),” Paz was quoted as saying.

After the initial round, Paz holds the fourth overall spot in the SS600 category.

Meanwhile, Mascardo was also aggressively in hounding for the UB150 title with a third-place finish in Race 1. He then completed Race 2 at the eighth spot.

Gian Carlo Mauricio, who was with Mascardo at the said category, failed to finish Race 1 due to technical difficulties and was at the 13th spot in Race 2.

For the UB150 division’s first round, Mascardo landed on sixth place overall and Mauricio, at 17th place.

The second round of the 2024 ARRC will be on April 19-21 at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China.

Photos from Yamaha Motor Philippines

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