2023 SMOKIN WHEELS OFFICIAL RESULTS

PRESS RELEASE – This past weekend the Guam International Raceway hosted the 40^th running of the APL Smokin Wheels Weekend which brought together a variety of exciting motorsports disciplines along with competitors from other countries to compete alongside Guam in a full weekend of motorsports. Among those were the motorcycle and Atv endurance events held on Sunday morning.

First to hit the endurance course on Sunday morning were the Open Atvs where each team competed on a single machine and were allowed up to two riders which could switch off when needed through out the two hour race. With a full starting gate that even saw several riders having to line up outside the gates the field charged forward as the green flag dropped signifying the race was on. Quickly the team of Hiromasa Kitada and Takahiro Saso took the lead aboard the #43 Yamaha followed closely by the Guam team of Pierre Banes and George Santos on the #14 Suzuki. Also, up front in the mix was the Saipan and Guam team collaboration of Christian Camacho and James Lujan aboard the #1 Yamaha.

The course began to be the major player in the event as quickly the #14 machine suffered a flat and was forced into the pits for repairs. The course was physically demanding on both rider and machine as most of the field returned within the first thirty minutes to the pits to either make repairs or to switch off with their co rider. This allowed the #4 of Cycles Plus supported Robert Bucek who was racing solo in the ironman category to move up to the front right before the halfway mark of the race.

Unfortunately for Bucek he was also bitten by the rough course and was forced into the pits to repair a rear flat. The Japan team aboard the #43 were looking strong up front having led midway into the second hour when once again the course took another victim but this time it was the Japan team and it was terminal having ending Japans hopes of finishing. This allowed the Saipan Guam team of Camacho and Lujan to inherit the lead with less than thirty minutes left in the race and despite a heroic charge from the #14 team of Banes and Santos to reel in and pass the leader the Saipan Guam collaboration took the win. Open Atv class finishers are as follows

1^st #1 Christian Camacho and James Lujan – Saipan Guam – Yamaha

2^nd #14 Pierre Banes and George Santos – Guam – Suzuki

3^rd #4 Robert Bucek Ironman – Guam – Cyclesplus Suzuki 

4^th #8 Quirino Cabe and Tony Diaz – Guam – Honda

5^th #11 John Gilman Ironman – Guam – Yamaha

6^th #444 Peter Grey and Daryle Camacho – Guam – Yamaha

7^th #24 Austin Blaz and Edward Sandlin – Guam – Yamaha

8^th #71 Mathew Sandlin and Kione Sandlin – Guam – Honda

9^th #25 Sera Chargulaf and Aaron Blaz – Guam – Yamaha

In other Atv class results

Japan took first in the Midrange Atv class with the #1 Honda of Tatsuhiko Hosoda riding solo. Hosoda was followed in second place by Japan team rider Daisuke Nagashima also riding solo aboard the #3 Honda.

In the Ironman class Tatsuhiko Hosoda took home the Ironman award in the overall Atv field of riders.

MOTOCROSS

Immediately after the last open atv had crossed the finish line and had cleared the course the gate quickly dropped on a field of the twenty three teams that had lined up in the motorcycle class. Under the same rules as the Atv Endurance the motorcycle endurance teams were allowed up to two riders but must compete on the same single machine they began the event with. Once the gate had dropped  off island or US based pro riders Sean Lipanovich and Doug Dubach took command of the race aboard the #505 Cycles plus prepared Kawasaki Kxf 450 taking an early lead.

The lead team was challenged early on by the course throughout the first hour as torrential rain began to fall and also by several strong teams experienced in Guams muddy conditions consisting of #18 Little John Aguon and James Robo Robinson on the Cyclesplus supported Kawasaki kxf450 and by the #1 of JR Cepeda and Marshal Vawters on a Yamaha. Also, up front and in strong contention for the lead were the #85 of Blaze Aiken riding solo in the Ironman category on the Cyclesplus Kawasaki kxf250 and the father and son Saipan team of Cuki and Shane Alvarez on the #111. 

As the halfway point of the race past the team of Lipanovich and Dubach had pulled nearly a lap in front of the rest of the field and were continuing to pull further ahead. By the time the checkers came out at the conclusion of a grueling two hour race the US based team of Sean Lipanovich and Doug Dubach had lapped the entire field of twenty-three to take the win on the Cyclesplus Kxf450. The overall finishers in the Open Motorcycle class are as follows:

1^st #505 Sean Lipanovich and Doug Dubach – United States – Cycles Plus Kawasaki 

2^nd #18 Little John Aguon and James Robo Robinson – Guam New Zealand – Cycles Plus Kawasaki

3^rd #85 Blaze Aiken Ironman – Guam – Cycles Plus Kawasaki

4^th #111 Cuki and Shane Alvarez – Saipan – Kawasaki

5^th #20 Carlo Pangelinan and Zach Cruz – Guam – Yamaha

6^th #1 JR Cepeda and Marshal Vawters – Guam – Yamaha

7^th #31 Tim and Mariana Wenden – New Zealand Guam – RMP KTM

8^th #11 Larry and Michael Limtiaco – Guam – Husquvarna 

9^th #222 Joey jr Crisostomo and Caleb Barreto – Guam – Kawasaki

10^th #23 Jordan Leon Guerrero Ironman – Guam – LGR Kawasaki

11^th #08 Kanen Arceo and Jonboy Aguon – Guam 

12^th #323 Corey Pangelinan and Eric Cuz – Saipan

13^th #5 David Celis

14^th #44 Patrick Togawa and Joe Santos – Saipan

15^th #10 Wesley Degracia and Johnny Sablan – Guam

16^th #75 Frank and Jeff Rios – Guam

17^th #74 Ethan and Damian Manibusan – Guam

18^th #19 Zachary Chang Ironman – Guam

19^th #27 Marvin and Willie Pangelinan – Guam

20^th #66 Anthony Blaz Ironman – Guam

21^st #96 Edward Sandlin Ironman – Guam

22^nd #86 Ponce Rasa Ironman

In other class results

In the Schoolboy class the Guam team of Kanen Arceo and Jonboy Aguon took win aboard their Kawasaki kxf250.

The Over 40 Vet class saw two sets of brothers going head to head at the front with Michael and Larry Limtiaco grabbing the top step on the podium on their #11 Husquvarna and brother Frank and Jeff Rios taking the second step on a KTM.

In the Father and son or daughter class the father and son Saipan team of #111 Cuki and Shane Alvarez took the win aboard a Kawasaki Kxf250 over the second place father daughter team of #31 Tim and Mariana Wenden on their RMP supported KTM.

In the 450cc class overall winning team of Sean Lipanovich and Doug Dubach took top honors on a Cycles Plus Kawasaki with Little John Aguon and James Robo Robinson taking second on a Cycles Plus Kawasaki. Third place went to Yamaha mounted team of JR Cepeda and Marshal Vawters.

In the Ironman class the top solo ride went to the #85 Blaze Aiken aboard the Cycles Plus Kawasaki Kxf250.

After a day of recovery an awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Spa room Monday evening where trophies and special awards were presented as riders and support teams came together to celebrate, congratulate and share their on the track experiences from what is be declared one of the best yet toughest APL Smokin Wheels Weekends ever.