Sablaya ends the Pilipinas Dream Cup with flying colors

The season finale of the 2018 Petron National Motorcycle Championship and the 6th round of the Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup (HPDC) has recently concluded.

The qualifying round started early for the riders as they took off from the pit gate at 8:55 a.m., with rider #6 Sean Barcial making the best time at 2 minutes and 25.729 seconds. Rider #1 Kervie Bergania made it to second place, 2:25,995, while rider #7 Jakob Sablaya, who led the pack in the overall points, landed at third place, 2:28.052, putting him close to rider #8 Andrei Reyes and #2 Wyner Blente, who landed at fourth and fifth places respectively.

Meanwhile, Rider #12 Jasper Cruz and #4 Sean Ondillo placed sixth and seventh respectively.

Race 1, October 6, Saturday, 11:00 a.m.

As the red light went off, the seven riders sped off for a 5-lap battle. Barcial took the opportunity to lead but Sablaya did not make it easy for the former, making his way in the first corner. From the second up to the final lap, Sablaya, Barcial, Bergania, Reyes, and Blente sliced and diced across the 4.2-kilometer track, while Cruz and Ondillo were left behind with a total of 24.524 seconds gap.

Sablaya wowed the crowd as he rode his CBR150R in the straights taking the lead of the pack from Barcial and Bergania. However, Barcial managed to take the lead from Sablaya on the so called “Acacia” at the west course. Barcial charged on the chicane while Sablaya was still trying to take the lead on the last stretch. At the last corner, Barcial managed to stay on the lead winning the Race 1 with a total time of 12:10.286 and with the fastest time of 2:25.708. Sablaya settled for second place with a total time of 12:10.719 and with the fastest time of 2:26.553. The third placer was Bergania.

Race 2, October 7, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.

With everyone’s strong excitement for the final leg of the season, the 5-lap race started. The first row of riders was composed of Barcial, Sablaya and Bergania who competed to reach the first corner to get the lead and break away from the pack. As Barcial had the first corner, Sablaya and Bergania struggled hard and were able to catch up quickly and Sablaya stole the lead position while Bergania followed through, taking Barcial back to the third spot. On the third lap, Barcial has once again able to slice through the fourth corner at the Acacia from Sablaya, but Bergania remained strong and was able to slip stream through Barcial. On the final lap, Sablaya was determined to take this race and finish strong, thus on the last straight, he secured the lead, taking the last corner with the checkered flag raised, followed by Bergania for the second place and Barcial for third place.

“Masaya ako sa naging resulta ng Round 6 dahil nung race 1, magkakadikit kami nila Kervie Sean, Wyner, and Andrei. Hindi ko nakuha ang lead position sa Race 1, pero hindi ko pinakawalan ang Race 2. Kahit nasa P3 ako, kinuha ko ‘yung mga opportunity na nakita ko kung saan ako makakalusot. Masaya ako sa resulta at performance ko sa buong season kasi nakuha ko ang championship ng 2018 Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup,” said Sablaya after the race.

Barcial, on his part, said, “Nung qualifying round hindi ko expected ang P1, pero nagulat ako na nakuha ko ito, kaya nung Race 1, hindi ko pinalampas ang pagkakataon na lumaban at masaya ang palitan namin sa loob ng track. Nung Race 2, naging aggressive ako sa cornering ko and chicane, naging maganda ang laban namin nina Jakob at Kervie. Happy pa rin ako dahil malaki pa rin ang nakuha kong points.

Bergania was also happy with the result: “Masaya ako sa naging resulta ko this weekend. Naramdaman ko talaga na nag-improve ang aking skills at napakita ko ‘yun sa Races 1 and 2, consistent na ang aking takbo sa podium finish ko. Masasabi ko lang na malaking bagay na nakasali ako sa Dream Cup. Maraming salamat, Honda.”

Honda Philippines, Inc. is proud to see the improvements of all the participants at the track by an average of 5.0 seconds from the previous time they have joined the program, as well as their skills in handling the CBR150R. In conclusion, the 2018 Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup champion is Alfred Jakob Sablaya with a total of 280 pts., followed by Sean Barcial with 238 pts. and Andrei Samuel Reyes with 194 pts.