|Tadahito Dashi Watanabe, Team Suzuki Pilipinas rider on board the Suzuki GSX-R600, the country’s official entry to the SuperSports 600cc class in the ARRC.|
Suzuki’s 2012 Asia Road Racing Championship campaign kicked off on a strong note—with better results compared to last year’s race season.
Round 1: Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
This year, Suzuki revamped the team, getting Tadahito Dashi Watanabe, a young championship calibre rider with multiple championships in the Philippines and numerous years of experience in international racing, for the SuperSports 600cc class. Watanabe is a returning rider, having been with the team in 2008.
Suzuki meanwhile got John Emerson Inguito, a championship calibre rider with a good winning line, to beef up its Underbone 115 cc category. Inguito will partner with John Lery F. Enriquez, another championship calibre rider.
Suzuki’s technical team also underwent some changes, Suzuki has Japanese mechanics for the 600cc SuperSports category and Filipino mechanics for the 115cc Underbone category were the team is using the Suzuki Smash 115, one of the top selling underbone bikes in the country today.
Suzuki finished the race at 18th and 19th place (out of 26), which is better than their place last year.
For the SuperSports 600 category, Dashi Watanabe scored the first point for the team, finishing the race at 13th place (out of 19). Watanabe kicked off very well, and was able to pass a couple of riders towards the third lap of the 16-lap race. However, the race was red-flagged due to an oil spill, resulting to a pile-up of riders, with Watanabe included, and leaving only 11 bikes when the race was restarted.
|John Emerson Inguito and John Lery Enriquez, both championship calibre riders, are Team Suzuki Pilipinas’ entries to the underbone 115cc category. Shown here on board the Suzuki Smash 115, one of the country’s top selling underbone bikes.|
Being the first and only Filipino team to officially join the Asia Road Racing Championship, Suzuki’s main objective is to further the Filipino pride. Bearing the Philippine flag in an international racing scene is one huge step for the country.
“This is really a proud moment for us at Team Suzuki Pilipinas, not only because we as a team have been able to compete but the fact that this is an all-Filipino team of riders make us even prouder,” Mr. Eiji Kobayashi, said Team Director of Team Suzuki Pilipinas.
Team Suzuki Pilipinas is a collaboration of all Filipino riders, supported by Filipino and Japanese racing experts united in their valiant quest for glory in international racing.
Filipinos are known for our superb skills and talents, both in local and international level. Take the case of Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s quest for greatness was not a walk in the park. But with determination and perseverance, he has rewritten sports history and has put the country in the world map when in comes to boxing. And this is what Suzuki Philippines is trying to replicate in the international racing scene.
There is glory in winning. Having been selected to join the Asia Road Racing Championships is already a glorious moment, not only for the team but for the Filipinos, especially the avid supporter of the sport.
“Through the Asia Road Racing Championship, Suzuki Philippines has done the difficult first step of breaking the glass ceiling for Filipino racing fans in general and it takes a lot of commitment and determination to participate in such world-class international competitions ,” said Eiji Kobayashi, Team Director, Team Suzuki Pilipinas. “Winning the cup will just be the icing on the cake.”
The Asia Road Racing Championship showcases the best in Asia—Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, India, Singapore, Australia and Taiwan. These countries have vastly improved the motorcycle racing industry and we ought to be proud that we are a part of this. Team Suzuki PIlipinas can learn from the best in Asia, and hopefully, soon will be equal to them in technology and skills, so that someday, we will win the race. This is Suzuki’s Passion, the Filipino winning passion.
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