Mangulabnan nails 2nd S’bike win

Marvin Mangulabnan of BMW Motorad Racing Team put up a late charge to post his second straight win and firm up his bid for another crown after Race 3 of the Pirelli Superbikes Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit recently.

Mangulabnan foiled Team Ducati Philippines’ power duo of Troy and TJ Alberto as he swept the pre-final and final races to wrest the solo lead in the event serving as part of the Eneos Philippine Motorsports season and sanctioned by the Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA).

The 16-year-old Troy Alberto, who topped the time trials with 1:34.057, dominated the early going of the 10lap pre-final heat but failed to sustain his charge as Mangulabnan wrested control in the sixth lap and held on to the lead up to the finish.

The reigning champion ruled the prefinal race with a 1.033 margin over TJ Alberto as Troy settled for third just ahead of former champions Raniel Resuello of RGUTZ-Wheeltek Racing Team and Dashi Watanabe of Kawasaki Racing Team.

Troy Alberto eventually bagged the Superbikes Intermediate title over Jericho Arnaiz and JC Villanueva, who took the Superbikes Novice crown over Ian Mortimer and Lawrence Macalinao in the event sponsored by Pirelli and ENEOS with media partners Inside Racing Magazine, Torque Magazine, Motorcycle World Magazine, Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ DZME 1530, Driven 2 Ride Philippines, and Motorsiklo News Magazine.