by Bob Bucek for KUAM Sports

With the weather just on the side of being a monsoon a few hardy motocross racers lined up to challenge each other, the weather, and the swamp like course conditions during a scheduled warm up motocross event that happened this past Sunday. The scheduled warm up motocross race event was to allow riders some race experience time in anticipation of the upcoming 6 round 2010 Guam Motocross Championships which is set to kick off on Sunday January 24th at the GIR.

Gates were opened at the Guam International Raceway at 9am that morning to allow competitors for some practice on the motocross layout before the start of the scheduled 1pm Warm Up event. At the time practice was being held the motocross course was in prefect condition for the competitors with many of the open class motocross bikes taking full advantage of the ideal conditions. Former Guam motocross champion Michael Limtiaco joined his brother Lawrence Limtiaco also a past Guam motocross champion on the course for some orientation laps. Both Limtiaco brothers aboard the green Kawasaki race bikes looked fast as they joined current Guam champion Jesse Clokey who was aboard his RPM Yamaha Yfz250 on the course. Also putting in fast lap times on the big machines out on the course was rookie racer Antonio Cabe his older brother Quirino Cabe both riding the RPM Yamaha supported Yzf machines and reigning Vet champion Tom Tarnate aboard his own Kawasaki Kxf250. With what was looking to be a strong field of open class competitors the clouds moved in along with the wind and the rain. After a short and wet rider's meeting several classes elected to postpone their heats until the rain stopped. These classes included the open motorcycle and atv classes. The kids classes how ever found the wet dismal monsoon like conditions to their liking perfect for having fun and for challenging each other with some racing.  

The first class to kick off the 2010 racing season were the Kids Atv class. Female motocross racer Raven Girgan took her Tsunami Motorsports Polaris to an early lead and had quickly put some distance between herself and her fellow competitors. Running in second place at the half way point was rookie racer Aubrey Taimanglo aboard a yellow DRX and behind her was Jonathan Rose also on a DRX. Up front in the second half of the race it was looking to be an easy win for Girgan but as the rain began to fall even heavier she suddenly was flagged in for some repairs. It appears that Girgans machine had a bolt that had worked itself loose and her pit support made up of Tsunami Motorsports and her father recognized the problem and quickly made the required repair to get Girgan quickly back into the race. Meanwhile Aubrey Taimanglo who had been running a strong second began to have mechanical issues with her DRX and was flagged by her pit crew to come in for repairs. After a short time Taimanglo reentered the race but eventually was forced to retire due to mechanical issues.  With both Girgan and Taimanglo having mechanical problems Jonathan Rose moved himself up and into the lead. Rose was looking strong getting faster it appeared after every lap completed. Now with just one lap left it looked as if Rose was going to take the very first win of 2010 but again what appeared to be was not to be as with just one turn left and 30 yards from the checkered flag Rose's DRX machine came to fluttering halt. Unfortunately for Rose his pit crew made up of his father Jim Rose who had graciously volunteered to help as track safety was all the way at the other side of the motocross course and was unable to help his son refire the DRX before Girgan on her Tsunami Motorsports Polaris snatched back the lead she had once held. Girgan took the win with Rose eventually restarting his machine to take second with Taimanglo taking the third place finish. 

The 85cc minibke class was the next and final class to take advantage of the scheduled Warm Up event. Last year's rookie Suzuki mounted Frank Vawters jr. was joined by first time racers Robit Cabe also aboard a Suzuki and Ethan Cabe aboard a Yamaha. The two Cabe boys who have riding experience and had spent time late last year practicing on the motocross track located at the Guam International Raceway in anticipation of the 2010 motocross season looked fast they both launched off the line at the start. With elbows out and with great riding posture Robit Cabe also known as Casper took the lead. Casper showed the crowd on hand that he was fearless as regardless of the conditions he held the throttle wide open and cleared several of the large double jumps and tore his way through the gnarly whoop section. Casper was impressive in his debut race and proved that he will be a serious title contender for this years 85cc Guam Motocross Championship. Ethan Cabe aboard the Yamaha was also putting in impressive lap time as he held off Frank Vawters for the second place position. The three up front riders put on a great race with Robit Cabe taking first, Ethan Cabe second, and Frank Vawters jr. third. 

The next scheduled event will be the kick off this year's highly anticipated 2010 Guam Motocross Championships with round 1 on Sunday January 24th. The championship round will be held at the Guam International Raceway's Jose and Hermenia Calvo Memorial Off Road Park in Yigo. Racing starts at 1pm and will be free to all to come out to watch and support. The Raceway's Jose and Hermenia Calvo Memorial Off Road Park will be open this coming Sunday January 17th for riding and practice. For information on the requirements needed to ride and race at the park visit www.AtvMotocrossGuam.com or contact GRF PIO Robert Bucek at 727-5381