
NEXT TRACK DAY — 06 DECEMBER 2009 —- AT THE NEWLY OPENED CLARK INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (CIS) IN ANGELES CITY!
The National Racing Association’s Track Day last 23 August 2009 at the Batangas Racing Circuit had as many F words faster than you can say F_ _ _! (That’s for “FUNK” you people!) It had FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD, FUN, FERVOR, FREAKS (TD Freaks that is!), FAST riders, FANCY bikes, FAMILIAR and FAMOUS FACES, FASHIONABLE gear, and lots of FANS!
Presented by Bridgestone Tires, the “F”ourth NRA Track Day for 2009, under event director and NRA Prez Jake Swann, drew the participation of more than 80 motorbike enthusiasts (and that’s not counting the ride marshals, who included current and former racers Migs Ripoll, Rod Chua, Jay Carrion, Richie Lazaro, and Jade Lazaro) and quite a number claiming “I’m Only Here to Watch” motorcyclists) from mostly big to small displacements, who all feverishly (another F word!) rode around the 3.7 kilometer track under clear, bright, beautiful skies throughout the day.
Usual Track Day suspects in attendance were Superbike champs Glenn Aguilar, Toti Alberto, Miguel Bichara, Ryan Medina, and SBK racers John Defensor, Joby Tanseco, Nino Garcia, JC Villanueva and small and big bike ace Dashi Watanabe. Even u-bone expert Jeff Chan was there! But what really got the fans jumping in the stands and the girls screaming “I Love You’s” was not the presence of these bike hunks, but two (literally!) small bike wonder kids, 9-year old Brandel Ortiz, and 12-year old Mokoy Ancheta.
Brandel, son of former Superbike (Expert Class) racer Randy Ortiz, and riding on a shiny yellow Betrakit 75cc, and Mokoy, on an equally bright yellow and blue Honda Wave 100cc, totally held their own against bigger, taller, and more experienced Track Day riders around the huge (at least for these two!) BRC circuit. Their proud parents, as well as a hundred more spectators in the paddocks and in the grandstands, cheered them on during their track sessions as if actual races were going on (take that you big boys!)
Speaking of parents and their kids, Track Day also became a Family Day of sorts as several riders had their families in tow — wives, dads, moms, aunts, uncles, grandmas, even their little babies!
Track Day fans also had a blast watching two fun races in the afternoon — a 4-lap event for the big bikes, and another 3-lap affair for the small bikes. In the big bike class, the racers and experts, however, became distraught as the “fun rules” restricted them from joining the non-experts. They had a great time, nevertheless watching their friends and fellow riders experience close to what the “real deal” is like at BRC.
A lot more joined the small bike fun race (as the rules didn’t restrict the racers from joining this time) which was participated in among others by Dashi, Brandel, and Mokoy. And what a treat these small motor bikers gave the audience! No prizes though. Just the grand reward of having ridden the impressive Batangas track with these uber-talented racers and fellow bike enthusiasts!
But the excitement of the day didn’t stop there! TradeTech Marketing, a Batangas-based company, had a display during Track Day too. But wait! Before you can scratch your head and ask, they’re the exclusive Philippine distributors of MotoAir, a textile riding jacket — with a built-in air bag! (We told you it was exciting!) TradeTech received a lot of inquiries about these jackets and pretty soon this product will make its debut in the Metro Manila market.
Motorcycle clubs that came in full force for the NRA Track Day were Bikers Unlimited, Disciples, P_k-P_k Riders, Toy Bikes MC, Bagwis Manila, Club R, Motobok, and several from ATAT, Ducati Unlimited Club, and Club 200.
All in all, the NRA Track Day last Sunday was a very successful and most enjoyable affair for the organizers, the participants, spectators, guests, and everyone in general.
Many thanks again to the sponsors of this event which were Teknic, Easy Trailer, and Aeromed Ambulance Transport, together with media partners Inside Racing, Mo2rista, and www.motorcyclephilippines.com.
And a big “Thank You!” to ALL who came and supported the event!
See you all next Track Day!












