Yamaha PH Racing Team dominates maiden heat of local racing series

MANILA: The Yamaha Philippines Racing Team blew the competition at the recently held Round 1 of the Motul MotoIR National Championship at Tarlac Circuit Hill. 

Per the racing outfit of the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer’s Philippine subsidiary, the rider’s commanding performance asserted the team’s presence across multiple categories in one of the most competitive season openers to date. 

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Strong qualifying 

Strong results in the qualifying round have allowed the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team to lock in front-running positions and set a positive tone for the race proper. 

For one, April King Mascardo was able to secure pole position in the premier Super Underbone Open GP (Expert) class. He was closely followed by McKinley Kyle Paz in second place and Timothy Rojas in fourth. 

On the other hand, Justinne Tolentino qualified second in the Super Sports Bike Women’s Championship, while JM Malonzo and Zain Doblada positioned themselves competitively in their respective classes. 

Day 1 (Sprint Race) 

Come Saturday, the team proved they can convert strong qualifying positions into podium finishes. 

On that note, Mascardo and Paz maintained their front-running pace with second- and third-place finishes, respectively. Rojas was able to secure fifth. 

Meanwhile, Malonzo added to the team’s tally with a second-place finish in the Super Underbone Open GP (Intermediate) category. 

Day 2

After a competitive sprint event, the second day marked the main race program. 

In Race 1 of the Super Underbone Open GP (Expert), Mascardo delivered a commanding performance to secure the top spot, with Paz completing a remarkable charge from the back of the grid to finish second. 

For his Super Underbone LTD GP (Expert) run, Mascardo finished first. Paz also stood at the podium after clinching the third spot. 

As for Tolentino, the princess delivered a strong performance in the Super Sports Bike Women’s Championship, finishing third. 

Resilient amid challenges 

The race weekend was not met without challenges. 

The Wonder Boy, unfortunately, started last due to a strategic motorcycle change for his Super Underbone Open GP (Expert) heat, although his recovery ride stood out as one of the most impressive performances of the weekend. 

On the other hand, Dablada and Malonzo were forced to retire after a first-corner incident, cutting their Super Underbone LTD GP (Intermediate) race short. 

A more serious incident occurred in the Super Underbone LTD GP (Expert) for Rojas, who was involved in a crash following contact with another rider’s fallen bike. 

Rojas sustained an injury left forearm but returned later in the day in good spirits to support the team. As such, he is expected to miss Round 2 as he focuses on recovery. 

Speaking of which… 

Round 2 

The Yamaha Philippines Racing Team now looks ahead to Round 2 of the MotoIR National Championship, set on May 2 to 3 at Tarlac Circuit Hill. 

“Carrying momentum, confidence, and valuable race data, the team remains focused on pushing further across all categories and continuing to set the standard for performance in Philippine racing,” Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH) wrote in a press statement. 

“Unified and relentless, Yamaha Philippines Racing Team continues to prove that its strength lies not just in individual results, but in its ability to deliver across the entire grid,” it noted. 

Race summary 

Here is how the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team stacked up against the competition during the first round of the Motul MotoIR National Championship: 

Super Underbone Open GP (Expert)	Super Underbone LTD GP (Expert)	Super Underbone Open GP (Intermediate)	Super Sports Bike Women’s Championship
Sprint Race P2 April King Mascardo P3 McKinley Kyle Paz P5 Timothy Rojas	P1 April King Mascardo P3 McKinley Kyle Paz	P2 JM Malonzo	P3 Justinne Tolentino
Race 1 P1 April King Mascardo P2 McKinley Kyle Paz

“This season’s MotoIR National Championship features one of its most competitive lineups, with top riders across the country elevating the level of racing. Against this backdrop, Yamaha Philippines Racing Team’s results stand as a clear statement of performance,” YMPH said. 

“From multiple race wins to consistent podium finishes across categories, the team demonstrated that its success is built on depth, preparation, and execution rather than expectation,” it added. 

“Mascardo’s continued momentum following his ARRC podium performance further highlights Yamaha’s strength across both international and national stages,” the company concluded.  

Yamaha PH Racing Team at ARRC 

Not too long ago, the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team fielded a refreshed roster at the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). 

While the team’s performance was not as dominant locally, the lineup was still able to showcase speed, resilience, and competitive intent. 

In the SS600 category, Paz launched from the eighth spot to finish fifth in Race 1. He returned even sharper in Race 2 to finish fourth. 

The UB150 class saw Mascardo start from fourth place to finish 14th. He later came in to Race 2 with renewed aggression and confidence to land an impressive second-place return. 

Rojas too, built momentum in the UB150 category, showing steady growth throughout the weekend. 

Starting from P19, he focused on consistency and control, gaining valuable positions in Race 1 to finish P17. In Race 2, he pushed further, improving to P15 while maintaining composure in a highly competitive field. 

With momentum building, the team now sets its sights on Round 2 of the ARRC, happening on May 8 to 10 at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand. 

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