Philippine Suzuki Challenge Road to ARRC

The Suzuki Philippine Challenge: Road to ARRC

These guys know intense.

Suzuki Philippines gets the show on the road as the brand stages the Suzuki Philippine Challenge: Road to ARRC at the Megatent Parking Lot in Libis, Quezon City. The event serves as the qualifying round that will determine the lucky riders who will represent the country at the Suzuki Asian Challenge in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC).

With the Japanese giant’s imminent return in MotoGP, Suzuki also confirmed the introduction of its own Asian series to be staged in conjunction with the ARRC. The Suzuki Asian Challenge will run on a single-make Suzuki Raider R150 and is open to all Asian riders. Representatives from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines will compete with each other to find out who will reign in this exciting event.

The Philippines is given three slots on the race. One slot will be awarded at the Suzuki Philippine Challenge wherein the brand’s satellite team members from the YRS Racing Team, BMR Racing Team and Team VMAN Racing’s agility will be proven. The two slots were automatically awarded to the top two performing riders of the Suzuki Satellite Teams based on their 2014 achievements – Enzo Rellosa and Mario Borbon. These three riders will compete at the 5-leg Suzuki Asian Challenge in different parts of Asia.

The Suzuki Asian Challenge will form the base of a structured programme that will eventually spearhead Suzuki’s efforts to discover and groom riders from the Asian region. "Suzuki's returnto the MotoGP in 2015 has been well received by fans. This collaboration with the Asia Road Racing Championship was the result of our intention to also train up more Asian talents who may one day race for Suzuki in the MotoGP. As such, the Suzuki Asian Challenge will be a step-by-step progression for young hopeful riders from around the Asian region." said Mr. Motoo Murakami, Managing Director for Motorcycle Operations PT Suzuki Indomobil Sales.

The management of this impressive programme will be entrusted to Yukio Kagayama, who has abundant experience in MotoGP, World Superbike, World Endurance, and the Japanese Championship both as a rider and as team manager/owner.

Apart from the running of the Suzuki Asian Challenge, Kagayama will also be fronting a team in the SuperSports 600cc category - Team Suzuki Asia Kagayama. The team will play a crucial role in Suzuki's talent building programme as it will become the next logical step-up for graduates of the Suzuki Asian Challenge to gain their first taste of high cc racing.

SUZUKI SATELLITE TEAM MEMBERS PROFILE

Lorenzo “Enzo” Rellosa

Racing # 24

2014 Results

Philippine Representative in ASEAN Nation of Road Racing
Repsol National Road Race Championship 115 Super Stock Category Overall Champion
Repsol National Road Race Championship 115 Sports Production Category 1^st Runner Up
2^nd Place IRGP 115 Sport Production Category

Other Achievements

Motocross Series Champion

Michael Altamira

Racing # 56

2014 Results

Repsol National Road Race Championship 115 Sport Production Category 2^nd Runner Up
2^nd Place IRGP 130 Underbone Category

Other Achievements

2013 Repsol Camera Grande Suzuki One Make Race Champion
2013 Golden Wheel Awards Rider of the Year for 130 Open Expert

Eljin Lobarbio

Racing # 218

2014 Results

Repsol National Road Race Championship 115 Sport Production Category 3^rd Runner Up
Repsol National Road Race Championship 160 Automatic Expert Class 1^st Runner Up

Other Achievements

2013 Repsol National Road Race Championship 115 Sport Production 1^st Runner Up

Mario Borbon

· Racing # 29

2014 Results

· 2014 RUGP series- total of nine 1^st places; six 2^nd places and three 3^rd places.

· 2^nd place overall for Expert Rider of the Year – 2014 RUGP

· 1^st place Expert 130 UB, 1^st place Expert Open UB , 1^st place AT Open and 1^st place Suzuki Fi Cup – Shell Advance Talent Cup Cebu Leg

· Completed a “Triple Champion” feat in the final round of RUGP Cebu GP winning 1^st in Expert 130 UB, Expert Open UB and Expert AT Open

· 3^rd Expert Nex 115 cup – Maico Buncio Cup

Other Achievements

· 2012 RUGP Expert Rider of the Year

· 2012 Automatic Open Overall Champion

· 2012 Expert Open Overall Champion

· Won several awards and represented the Philippines in 2011 ASEAN Cup in Japan

Neil Perino

· Racing # 49

2014 results

· SUZUKI NEX 115 Cup series champion

· RUGP triple champion Bohol leg

· 1^st Novice 160 AT – 1^st round Davao GP

· 1^st Novice 160 AT and 3^rd Novice 130 UB – 2^nd round Tagum GP

· 1^st Novice 160 AT, 1^st Novice 130 UB and 1^st SUZUKI Nex 115 Cup – 4^th round Bohol GP

· 1^st SUZUKI Nex Cup, 2^nd Intermediate AT and 3^rd Novice 130 UB- 5^th round RUGP Dumaguete GP

· 1^st Novice 130 UB, 2^nd place Nex 115 Cup, 2^nd Expert AT Open

Other Achievements

· 2013 RUGP Rookie of the Year

· Golden Wheel Rookie of the Year Awardee

· 2013 RUGP Beginners 100-125 Super Stock Champion

· 2013 RUGP Beginners 130 Scooter Champion

John Louie Chan

· Racing # 13

2014 Results

2^nd Intermediate 130 UB Shell Advance Cebu leg
3^rd Intermediate 130 UB Shell Advance Dumaguete leg
2^nd place Intermediate 130 UB

Other Achievements

· 2012 RUGP Rookie of the Year for Visayas

· Overall Champion for Beginners 4T Automatic 130

· Highest Ranked Visayan Rider for 2012

Jacob Orbe

· Racing # 94

2014 Results

· 3^rd place Shell Advance Youth Cup Intermediate 160 AT Dumageute leg

· 3^rd place Novice 160 AT RUGP Cebu GP

· 3^rd place Nex Cup RUGP Cebu GP

Other Achievements

Motocross Champion Rider

Patrick North Orbe

· Racing # 28

2014 results

· 2^nd place Novice 160 AT Bohol GP

· 3^rd place Inter 160 AT Bohol GP

· 3^rd Novice 160 AT Dumaguete GP

Other Achievements

Golden Wheel Awardee for Motocross

Simon Spencer Solon

· Racing # 123

2014 results

· 1^st Beginners 100-125 SS UB – 1^st round Davao GP

· 1st Beginners 130 AT and 1st Beginners 100-125 SS UB – 2^nd round Tagum Gp

· 2^nd Beginners 100-125 SS UB – 3^rd round CDO

· 1^st Beginners 100-125 SS UB and 2^nd Beginners AT 130 – 4^th round Bohol GP

· 2^nd Beginners 100-125 SS UB and 3^rd Beginners 130 AT – 5^th round Dumaguete GP

· 1^st Beginners 130 AT and 1^st Beginners 100-125 SS UB- 6^th round Cebu GP

· 1^st Beginners 130 AT and 1^st Beginners 100-125 SS UB- Shell Advance Talent Youth Cup Cebu leg

· 2^nd Intermediate AT 160and 3^rd Novice AT 160- Shell Advance Talent Youth Cup

Joven Millana

Race Number # 47

2014 Results

5^th over all expert RUGP
MBF finisher

Other Achievements

2013- no. 2 intermediate rider of the year
Class Champion- 2^nd place intermediate 130cc
2^nd place intermediate scooter 160cc
2012 No. 2 Novice Rider of the Year
Class Champion – 2^nd place Novice 130cc
2^nd place 4AT Novice 160cc

Roland King Antonee Ganotise

Race Number # 18

2014 Results

2014- overall 4^th place RUGP
MBF finisher

Other Achievements

2013- 3^rd place RUGP expert open
3^rd place RUGP expert 130cc
4^th place scooter expert open
2012 Golden Wheel Awards Rider of the Year for Mindanao
RUGP 2012 Rider of the Year

April King Mascardo

Race Number #43

2014 Results

· Overall 3^rd place expert - RUGP 2014

· IRGP finisher 2014

· MBF finisher 2014

Other Achievements

2013 Golden Wheel Awards Intermediate Expert Rider of the Year
RUGP 2013 Intermediate Expert of the Year
2012 Golden Wheel Awards Mindanao Top Rider
2012 Golden Wheel Awards Novice Rider of the Year
RUGP 2012 Novice Rider of the Year

For more information, please get in touch with:

EdelynR. Yanilla

Advertising and Promotions

Suzuki Philippines

E edelyn.yanilla@suzuki.com.ph

M 0917 866 7442

W www.suzuki.com.ph

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UPDATE: Race Proper Photos. Results to follow

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These three racers will be representing the 3 stars and the sun in the Asian arena. Along with the photo is NAMSSA president Mr. Macky Carapiet (extreme lef), Suzuki Philippines, Inc president Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki (middle) and Suzuki Philippines, Inc. marketing head Mr. Monch Bontogon. The TurbanRider bids you good luck. Bring home the bacon boys!