ROUND 7: MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS SERIES

PRESS RELEASE – The Guam International Raceway hosted round 7 of the Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships on Sunday with perfect racing conditions for another full day of high energy and high-flying motorcycle and atv bar banging excitement. The motocross track at the Jose and Herminia Memorial Off-Road Park is a popular venue at the Guam International Raceway for many of our island families who choose to spend their time together as family and with friends.  The round 7 course was in prime condition this past Sunday joined by a cool breeze blowing in from over the eastern cliff just off of the ocean that was enjoyed by all. 

Regardless of the perfect conditions round 7 unfortunately was the second to the last race of the 2023 Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships and because of politics it could be the second to last time ever for all those families to enjoy their days at the Guam International Raceway. The Guam government via the Chamorro Land Trust Commission has issued an eviction notice which gives those who enjoy along with all the families until June 2^nd to get out and off the property. Property that has seen millions invested into the construction of an international racing facility will now be just another waste of a popular asset with the people. 

Although with the CLTC eviction lying heavy on the minds of our racing families the families themselves are all trying to keep a positive attitude for now with the hope that our island leaders will realize what a great treasure having a motorsports park has been and is for the island. The racing community is also hoping that Speaker Terlaje will be fair and grant an extension for the raceway to remain open until sometime after she has allowed bill 56-37 to move through the legislative process. 

A sliver of hope for the raceway to remain for the people is in the form of Bill 56-37 that has just been sitting with Speaker Therese Terlaje waiting to see movement from the speaker in bringing it forward. The bill has the support of Senators San Nicolas, Quinata, Parkinson, and San Augustin along with several others who have now all been out at the raceway at one time or another in support of the racers, their families and keeping the Guam International Raceway open for all the islands people. For those interested in supporting the Guam International Raceway they can go to Guamraceway.com to sign the online petition and contact their senators in support of bill 56-37. 

Highlights and results 

In heat one of two in the Open Motorcycle class defending champion JR Cepeda aboard his #1 plated Yamaha was blitzed off the start by several riders leaving him temporarily mid pack. Grabbing a spectacular start was RMP supported Tim Wenden on the #31 KTM who stretched out an early lead and was flying up front. #51 Frank Rios on a Yamaha along with CyclesPlus Kawasaki teammates #18 Little Jon Aguon and #85 Blaze Aiken were all under ire from the hard charging #1 of Cepeda. Cepeda didn’t waste time and leaped up into third moving past both Rios on the #51 and the #85 of Aiken.

Cepeda then put his sights on the #18 Kawasaki of Little Jon Aguon who was riding a wide bike making the pass difficult. Cepeda decided to pull the trigger over a set of jumps to fly nearly over and past Aguon for second place. By this time Wenden had a sufficient lead over Cepeda which he managed to the heat one finish. Cepeda took second with Aiken third.

Heat two was all the champ JR Cepeda off the start and onto the finish where he went virtually unchallenged for the win and therefore the overall round 7 win. #31 Wenden took second overall with the #85 of Aiken in third. Overall round 7 results are as follows:

 1^st #1 JR Cepeda 

2^nd #31 Tim Wenden

3^rd #85 Blaze Aiken

4^th #18 Little John Aguon

5^th #55 Carlo Pangelinan 

6^th #20 Zack Cruz 

7^th #51 Frank Rios 

8^th #75 Jeff Rios 

9^th #77 Gorio Perez 

10^th #96 Edward Sandlin

11^th #27 Marvin Pangelinan

In heat one of two in the Open Atv class #27 James Lujan on his Yamaha took the early lead with Suzuki rider #14 Pierre Banes and Yamaha mounted #88 Camillo Lorenzo in third. Lujan and Banes began to pull away from third place Lorenzo who was fighting to maintain the position from the attacks of the #4 of Robert Bucek aboard a CyclesPlus Suzuki. The #4 of Bucek coming from the back battled his way eventually forward past Lorenzo into third as Lujan leading had begun to pull away from the #14 Suzuki of Banes. At the heat one finish it was the #27 of Lujan first followed by the #14 of Banes and the #4 of Bucek.

In heat two the #27 Yamaha of Lujan once again took an early lead with the #14 of Banes and the #4 of Bucek hot on his rear wheels. As the lead trio hit the back 75 footer jump the #27 of Lujan suffered a mechanical issue which almost resulted on Banes and Bucek slamming into him upon landing off of the big jump. Fortunately, and by just the skin of their teeth both Banes and Bucek got by the downed #27 safely.

With Banes now leading and Bucek following closely the pair of Suzuki mounted riders put on a great show for their friends and families many of which were taking advantage of a great vantage viewing point on top of Larrys Leap a portion of the Offroad Utv and Buggy course. Bucek was keeping pace with Banes but just didn’t have that little extra to put the pass on Banes who road a strong race to take first and the round 7 overall win. Bucek took second with Camillo Lorenzo cruising it in in third. Overall round 7 results are as follows

1^st #14 Pierre Banes 

2^nd #4 Robert Bucek

3^rd #88 Cam Lorenzo

4^th #11 John Gilman

5^th #27 James Lujan

In other class results

Novice Open Atv

1^st #12 Austin Blaz

2^nd #171 Glenn Malenfant 

3^rd #75 Ericka Santos 

4^th #444 Peter Grey

5^th #18 Austin Quinata

Womens Open Atv

1^st #75 Ericka Santos

Midrange Atv

1^st #18 Austin Quinata

450cc Motorcycle

1^st #7 JR Cepeda 

2^nd #1 Little John Aguon 

3^rd #51 Frank Rios

4^th #77 Gorio Perez 

5^th #75 Jeff Rios

6^th #96 Jude Sandlin

250cc Motorcycle

1^st #31 Tim Wenden 

2^nd #85 Blaze Aiken

3^rd #55 Carlo Pangelinan

4^th #20 Zack Cruz

5^th #27 Marvin Pangelinan

Over 40 Vet Motorcycle

1^st #33 Tim Wenden

2^nd #55 Carlo Pangelinan 

3^rd #77 Gorio Perez 

4^th #51 Frank Rios

5^th #75 Jeff Rios

Over 55 Legends Motorcycle

1^st #51 Frank Rios

Novice Open Motorcycle

1^st #8 Kanen Arceo 

2^nd #22 Mourice Jones 

3^rd #177 Colin Perez Kirk

4^th #31 Mariana Wenden

5^th #180 Colton Engling

6^th #88 Dana Tamayo

School boy/girl

1^st #8 Kanen Arceo 

2^nd #31 Mariana Wenden

3^rd #180 Colton Engling

Womens Open

1^st #31 Mariana Wenden 

2^nd #88 Dana Tamayo

Kids Open Minibike

1^st #8 Jonathan Aguon

2^nd #21 Chris Leon Guerrero

3^rd #4 Landon Grey

4^th #226 Maddox Monnin

85cc Kids Minibike

1^st #8 Jonathan Aguon

2^nd #21 Chris Leon Guerrero

3^rd #4 Landon Grey

4^th #7 Maddox Monnin

65cc Kids Minibike

1^st #28 Julian Lane

2^nd #38 Traevin Blaz

3^rd #67 Chaene Aperocho 

4^th #100 Cannen Brooks

5^th #18 Jeriah Guzman

50cc SR Kids Minibike

1^st #44 Kiko Grey

50cc Kids Minibike

1^st #6 Owen Harris 

2^nd #7 Liam Ries

3^rd #27 Cainen Gumabon 

4^th #100 Kyan Mayo

5^th #23 Gianna Lane 

6^th #415 Monique Monnin

Kids Mini Atv SR 1

1^st #18 Austin Quinata

2^nd #7 Gaven Lorenzo

3^rd #40 Tayden Blaz

Kids Mini Atv SR2

1^st #4 Kyan Mayo

2^nd #555 Ava Harris

3^rd #11 Alana Quinata

Kids Mini Atv Intro

1^st #88 Giancarlo Lorenzo

2^nd #20 Ahriene Santos

Up next perhaps for the final time at the home of island motorsports will be round 8 of the 2023 Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships on Sunday May 21^st .

Racers along with their friends and families expressed their gratitude to have had such a great facility as the Jose and Herminia Calvo Memorial Off Road Park at the Guam International Raceway Yigo to be able to enjoy quality time with family and friends throughout these past 20 years.

They ask all their friends and families to please continue to support their goal of safety, sportsmanship and the family regardless if the racing facility in Yigo comes to an end or not. They also ask for all of islands leaders to please support Bill number 56-37. Those interested in getting involved or are looking for more information can visit www.GIRMAC.Teamapp.com or contact Robert Bucek at 671-727-5381 on Guam.