The Suzuki Philippine Challenge: Road to ARRC

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.

_DSC0428 _DSC0445
_DSC0173 _DSC0100
_DSC2831 _DSC0710

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.

_DSC0709 _DSC0641

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 return to 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.

_DSC0665 _DSC0635

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 1st Runner Up
  • 2nd 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 2nd Runner Up
  • 2nd 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 3rd Runner Up
  • Repsol National Road Race Championship 160 Automatic Expert Class 1st Runner Up

Other Achievements

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

Mario Borbon

  • Racing # 29

2014 Results

  • 2014 RUGP series- total of nine 1st places; six 2nd places and three 3rd places.
  • 2nd place overall for Expert Rider of the Year – 2014 RUGP
  • 1st place Expert 130 UB, 1st place Expert Open UB , 1st place AT Open and 1st place Suzuki Fi Cup – Shell Advance Talent Cup Cebu Leg
  • Completed a “Triple Champion” feat in the final round of RUGP Cebu GP winning 1st in Expert 130 UB, Expert Open UB and Expert AT Open
  • 3rd 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
  • 1st Novice 160 AT – 1st round Davao GP
  • 1st Novice 160 AT and 3rd Novice 130 UB – 2nd round Tagum GP
  • 1st Novice 160 AT, 1st Novice 130 UB and 1st SUZUKI Nex 115 Cup – 4th round Bohol GP
  • 1st SUZUKI Nex Cup, 2nd Intermediate AT and 3rd Novice 130 UB- 5th round RUGP Dumaguete GP
  • 1st Novice 130 UB, 2nd place Nex 115 Cup, 2nd 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

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

  • 3rd place Shell Advance Youth Cup Intermediate 160 AT Dumageute leg
  • 3rd place Novice 160 AT RUGP Cebu GP
  • 3rd place Nex Cup RUGP Cebu GP

Other Achievements

  • Motocross Champion Rider

Patrick North Orbe

  • Racing # 28

2014 results

  • 2nd place Novice 160 AT Bohol GP
  • 3rd place Inter 160 AT Bohol GP
  • 3rd Novice 160 AT Dumaguete GP

Other Achievements

  • Golden Wheel Awardee for Motocross

Simon Spencer Solon

  • Racing # 123

2014 results

  • 1st Beginners 100-125 SS UB – 1st round Davao GP
  • 1st Beginners 130 AT and 1st Beginners 100-125 SS UB – 2nd round Tagum Gp
  • 2nd Beginners 100-125 SS UB – 3rd round CDO
  • 1st Beginners 100-125 SS UB and 2nd Beginners AT 130 – 4th round Bohol GP
  • 2nd Beginners 100-125 SS UB and 3rd Beginners 130 AT – 5th round Dumaguete GP
  • 1st Beginners 130 AT and 1st Beginners 100-125 SS UB- 6th round Cebu GP
  • 1st Beginners 130 AT and 1st Beginners 100-125 SS UB- Shell Advance Talent Youth Cup Cebu leg
  • 2nd Intermediate AT 160and 3rd Novice AT 160- Shell Advance Talent Youth Cup

Joven Millana

  • Race Number # 47

2014 Results

  • 5th over all expert RUGP
  • MBF finisher

Other Achievements

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

Roland King Antonee Ganotise

  • Race Number # 18

2014 Results

  • 2014- overall 4th place RUGP
  • MBF finisher

Other Achievements

  • 2013- 3rd place RUGP expert open
  • 3rd place RUGP expert 130cc
  • 4th 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 3rd 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 pictures of this event please visit our gallery page.