PHILIPPINE motocross icon Anthony Glenn Aguilar did not disappoint, and even happy to see a bunch of competitors from young generation ready to fill his shoes.
The now 45-year-old Aguilar from Manila still hugged the spotlight in the first ever Mayor Gomer "Enan" A. Sabio Motocross & Flat Track Competition held last weekend, February 1-2, at the massive race tracks of Barangay Natumolan, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Aguilar reigned supreme on Day One action for the flat track riders, taking both the Expert and Pro-Expert titles before more than 5,000 spectators who came in droves from all over Northern Mindanao region.
But on the final day of the national motocross events, the many-time Philippine champion Aguilar was overshadowed by worthy conquerors young enough to be called his son. Comfortably negotiating what seen as the largest and widest race tracks in Mindanao being set-up right in a 10-hectare property of Johndorf, 19-year-old daredevil Terrence Pierce Napat from M'lang, North Cotabato rode like no other as he lorded it over in the Pro-Open and Expert Open categories wherein Aguilar could only manage to land at second and third, respectively.
Jules Bandigan of Mati, Davao del Norte claimed the third place in Pro-Open, while sentimental favorite Randel "Rai-Rai" Bait-it of Lantapan, Bukidnon settled for the second prize honor in the Expert Open. This, as 16-year-old Niño Mañacap of Davao City displayed a devil-may-care stunt of his own in hurdling the Inter-Open challenge obstacle at the expense of Jaime "Beng" Dablo of Pagadian and Jeven Lagrada of Agusan who finished at second and third places.
"Sila na ngayong mga kabataan. Ayaw ko nang mag-suicide at saka masakit na rin mga kalamnan natin. Mahirap magpagaling ng mga buto," humbly said Aguilar after the back-breaking contest.
In his prime, Aguilar was the "Michael Jordan" of PH motocross for over three decades-long domination.
"Parang walang sibol sa linya ng mga kalaban noon. Mabilis ang sibol ngayon nakakatuwa saka madami sila. It's a welcome development," Aguilar told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.
As Aguilar's eventual successor, the youthful Napat attributed his swagger, guts and bravery over the dangerous mounds of dirt and dust to his longtime idol since childhood.
"I saw him (Aguilar) compete in my hometown (M'lang) when I'm still a kid. I was marked for life that I started riding a bike at the age of six," said Napat, who skipped racing on the opening day, saying the flat track rigors might cause damage to his motorbike.
Accompanied by his 61-year-old auntie in Barangay Gusa resident Neneng Bano, Napat said being a competitive rider runs in the family's bloodline.
"My uncles are also into motocross sport. In fact, auntie Neneng also knows how to ride," added Napat, who studied Marketing at the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) in Davao City.
Also sharing the limelight are Clang-Clang Abarabar, Ronron Valledor and Stanley Nuñeza, who finished with two category titles apiece.
Filipino actor Jordan Herrera, who saw action alongside fellow celebrities Joross Gamboa and Jerome Abalos, managed a second place behind Bogy Galorport in the Executive level.
The two-day motocross was more than a success to Mohon village chair Francis Jerson Sabio, who facilitated the ambitious event with the help of Tagoloan sports-in-charge Van Halen Parmis and Natumolan's barangay captain Rafael Vidal, among others.
"There's nothing impossible if we're all determined to work for the sake of the great majority nga mahatagan og kalipay sa maong activity. Dili basta-basta among gisagubang after gibalibaran 'mi sa brgy. Sta. Cruz human naplastar ang tanan. Kon nagtukod ang China og hospital in 10 days for the n-CoV victims, nahuman nato ang race tracks in brgy Natumolan in only 5 days," Sabio said.
Race results:
Flat Track's Pro-Expert
1st - Glenn Aguilar
2nd - Rai-Rai Bait-it
3rd - Beng Dablo
Expert
1st - Glenn Aguilar
2nd - Beng Dablo
3rd - Dandan Yuzon
Motocross' Pro-Open
1st - Terrence Napat
2nd - Glenn Aguilar
3rd - Dodoy Bandigan
Expert Open
1st - Terrence Napat
2nd - Rai-Rai Bait-it
3rd - Glenn Aguilar
Inter-Open
1st - Niño Mañacap
2nd - Jaime Dablo
3rd - Jeven Lagrada
Underbone Expert
1st - Clang-Clang Abarabar
2nd - Chaly Molejon
3rd - Ronron Valledor
Motocross' Underbone Open
1st - Ronron Valledor
2nd - Clang-Clang Abarabar
3rd - Chaly Molejon
Flat track's Underbone Expert
1st - Stanley Nuñeza
2nd - Ronron Valledor
3rd - Mac Sande Super
Underbone Open
1st - Ronron Valledor
2nd - Clang-Clang Abarabar
3rd - Chaly Molejon
Underbone Open Final
1st - Stanley Nuñeza
2nd - Ronron Valledor
3rd - Clang-Clang Abarabar
Power Enduro
1st - J.R. Guibone
2nd - Clang-Clang Abarabar
3rd - A. Ampasin
Executive
1st - Bogy Galorport
2nd - Jordan Herrera
3rd - Roly Naparan