MOTOKHANA is officially over for 2009!
What a blast everyone had at the third and last edition of the maiden year of MOTOKHANA, a rider skills competition, held at Super-8 Ortigas last 08 November 2009, Sunday.
MOTOKHANA 2009 is organized and managed by the National Racing Association (NRA) and is presented by Castrol Activ Premium.
This motorcycle rider challenge is unlike any the Philippines has seen before. It is the first of its kind in the country – and in the world – and can best be described as a “maverick event” that only the NRA — and its visionary, Mr. Jake Swann — can come up with.
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Being extremely new to the motorcycle sporting scene, there were the initial, as well as the expected, struggles for the organizer to preach and spread the gospel of MOTOKHANA.
And what is MOTOKHANA?
It’s basically the development and showcasing of good rider skills, healthy competition and camaraderie among riders, and the cultivation of proper and safe riding habits — through a really fun and enjoyable event.
It’s that simple.
But not that easy.
Unarguably, it takes time to understand what MOTOKHANA is all about…
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The first event held last 19 September 2009 at the Liberty Center in Mandaluyong City — despite the awesome set-up of bright orange cones, wireless electronic timing system, LED displays, stark green and white tents, cheerful red and green buntings, banners and streamers covering every conceivable space available, beautiful and gorgeous promo models and even the presence of the Playboy Bunny – confirmed the hesitant (and “hiya”) nature of us Filipinos about joining something novel, unproven, and unheard of.
There was a low turn-out of participants.
But the NRA, in its’ strong belief in this new and upcoming motorcycle sporting religion, prodded on, and decided to introduce the “Ano ba ‘yang MOTOKHANA?” to the public by allowing into the course track anyone (provided they were in minimum safety gear) who wanted to try it out — for free. (“Get to know MOTOKHANA everyone – and have fun!” How best to convince someone about something, if not to let them try it out for themselves?)
Pilipinas, nagagalak kaming ipakilala ang MOTOKHANA! Game ka na ba?
The second event at SM-Southmall, Las Pinas last 18 October 2009 had a much improved turn-out. After the introduction of these free and open try-outs to the public, a sizable number of motor bikers then grew in confidence to participate, and the spectator gallery increased too.
This sudden rise in numbers after the first event also substantiated another culture trait of us Pinoys – “Kaya pala nila, ‘di kaya ko rin! Join na rin ako! Kaya ko ‘to!”
By the third event, however, last 08 / 8 (November 08 at Super 
in Cainta, it became apparent that MOTOKHANA had an unmistakable appeal to the riders, and was fast catching on.
It was a different scene altogether.
Despite the sun bearing down all day, the spectator galleries were packed, the participant tents were elbow to elbow, and the general event area swarmed with people who came to participate, watch, and celebrate the ideals the event promoted. MOTOKHANA fever had begun!
There were the returning participants, the regulars, and the newly-converted. There were the curious, the interested, and the “mirons”.
But the pleasant surprise of the day was how a big percentage of the competitors were first-time MOTOKHANA participants.
Which mean that – Finally, more riding Juans, Pablos, and Pedros (and Maria Claras) of this world also want to show what they’ve got!
So, without further adieu, here are the official results of MOTOKHANA – III, Ortigas-Cainta Edition, last 08 November 2009 at Super 8:
The crowd was more reactive and appreciative this time of the various skills and performances shown on the challenging MOTOKHANA course.
“Oohs and Aaahs” would be heard if a rider fell, dropped a bike, or put a foot down. Cheers and claps were energetic if a participant had a very good run. Applause would suddenly resound for a rider who’d slipped, but got up again, fiercely determined to finish their run. The cult of MOTOKHANA had arrived!
Of course, there was the presence of eye candy that surely made every MOTOKHANA fan’s day.
There were the gorgeous ladies of Castrol who graciously posed with everyone lining up at their fun photo booth. There was the disarming sultriness of Playboy Playmate Bettina Acosta, who gamely modeled for each and everyone’s camera while giving away complimentary copies of Playboy Magazine (Philippines). And there were the stunning promo girls of the new YOU C1000 health drink (coming in orange and lemon flavors) from Indonesia, who also gave away drink samples in cold plastic cups to everyone in attendance.. This product perfectly quenched the thirst of everyone baking in the heat of the day.
There were the display and retail booths also — Inside Racing Magazine with their familiar red and white colors, Station 1 Ride Gear with their various riding accessories, and of course, presentor Castrol Lubricants, with their Activ Premium Oil, together with a “Pick-a-Prize” promo to boot – a chance to win a good looking Castrol Racing black and gray windbreaker jacket with every purchase of one bottle of Activ Premium.
The support and presence of MOTOKHANA’s sponsors was strong too.
BP Philippines, Inc. Country Marketing Manager, Mr. Paul Salapantan, and Castrol’s Marketing Manager for Motorcycle Oils, Ms. Erica Esguerra, were there, and so was Inside Racing’s big wig, Mr. Al Camba, and Mo2rista’s editor-in-chief, Mr. Maynard Marcelo.
So exciting were the competitions in the four classes of Solo-Scooter, Solo-Underbone, Solo-Motorcycles, and Team, that many people continued to stay well into the night until all the competition runs were completed
Awarding ceremonies followed a few minutes afterwards, with the top 6 finishers of each class gamely posing with their jumbo cheques and posing for group photo ops.
Everyone went home tired, but very happy.
MOTOKHANA is here to stay.
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The National Racing Association wishes to thank the following sponsors and media partners of MOTOKHANA:
Teknic Leathers, Aeromed Ambulance Transport, The Manila Bulletin, Businessworld, The Daily Tribune, The Manila Times, Inside Racing, Mo2rista, Scooterista, Cruising Magazine, Manila Bulletin Sports Digest, and Playboy Magazine (Philippines).
Appreciation also goes out to Easy Trailer (distributed by New Heraldine Trading).
MOTOKHANA is a special Partner Event of www.motorcyclephilippines.com.
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Finally, much gratitude goes out to all the MOTOKHANA 2009 participants, guests, audience, friends, and to everyone who enthusiastically cheered, supported, welcomed, believed in, and promoted this new event in their own big and little way.
See you all in MOTOKHANA 2010! It’s just around the corner… so, ano pa ang hinihintay ninyo?
Ihanda na ang bike, lisensya, at gear!
Mag-MOTOKHANA ka na!
