Back to racing(?) for the day and on a really cool natural terrain MX track designed by Pepo Rubi, with a few jumps added :0) ... First ride on my 012 TC250 also ... First off, I can tell the suspension is a little too stiff for my weight ...Not sure what I'll do just yet on that one. Not overly worried really ... Maybe some random thread out here can help.Here's some words from the Philstar about the racing ..Lou Ornopia plans to hold at least six legs for this year, starting off with the Ornopia Cup on April 12 in Calambua, San Remigio - the birthplace of Cebu motocross. (Cool on that birthplace! This place was my 2nd-3rd race here in 2010(?). I crashed 3 times in a row trying to clear the huge step-up finish line jump in the first moto... I still hear about that today from the locals) "Calambua holds a special place in the hearts of Cebuano motocrossers because it is where it all started. It is but fitting and symbolic to hold our kick-off leg there," he said. Ornopia's move comes a music to the ears of local riders who had long been wanting to see action in a top-level competition. "We're very happy that Mr. Lou Ornopia is back in organizing motocross races and we're very excited to take part in his upcoming events," said the ageless Pepo Rubi who is highly regarded as the motocross King of Cebu. "We feel like we're one family with him and he deserves all our support." (I told ITL Husky to just give Pepo a bike ~2 yrs ago... Pepo is one of the godfathers of racing here, a PRO racer for > 25 yrs, goes to all the top races all yr and would bring instant CRED to the brand if he drove up and raced one.) "We are so thankful with Sir Lou's decision. It's really a welcome development to all the riders because it's the only series that we would really prepare hard and look forward to each year," pitched in Ayen Ledesma. "Aside from showing off our talents, it's also an opportunity for us to bond with out fellow riders as well as gain new friends in the racetrack." (Ayen is one of my riders... Fractured leg from a couple weeks back on his 450 ... He'll be back and looking for my 08 WR250... He likes the 2t, same as all the riders here.. This mud race would have been perfect for him ... Maybe he'll try this new fangled EFI bike this yr.) http://www.philstar.com/cebu-sports...tosuit-back-ornopia-relaunch-motocross-series He's some pics of the ride up north to the track and some Filipino MX racing in this clay mud!... This is how we roll here ... That's my friend Malones multi-cab ... Mine still runs but it is weak currently. 012 TC250 & 08 WR250 My friends Jamar and James D. with the hondas ... a 125, 250cfx, and a 450cf Here is how we roll when it rains ... And it did rain
Pepo really extended this track out alot... Some cool sweeper turns and a few natural downhill sections ... Same finish line step-up This is the lead up to the jump above. Not really whoops, but some nice chops after you have came up the side ... You should be able to pin it coming across there ... Not that I was but the bike felt ok there ... I was just playing pulling the front wheel up there ... This view is not too far off, these were some pretty big race hills ... That jump there has a receiver that is ~safe if you do not clear it ... Then a ~gnarly downhill before going back to the top ... I'll make a trip back up to ride this place for a day .. We've had just a little rain earlier and the clay dirt track is a little chunky but just about ready to be bubble gum type traction ..
My Husky up against the crowd-control fence I'm using the plastic off my 2010 TC Husky (#318) till I get something made here ... They record this events for TV I think and thats Pepo out there talking it up ... He mentioned once that I could do some talking on his show once but don't think I'm ready for prime time just yet ...Track view is OK and you can tell my camera is not going well with the showers we are getting now Some of the riders ... More riders and my friends ... They've been here before and grabbed a structure for cover ...
Here's some racing ... It 's been showering and if you look at his tires, mud is sticking to them ....This clay goes through a phase where it gets very sticky ...Every rotation of the tire sticks ... It will stop a bike unless you get up some speed to sling it off ... My good friend Richard on the 250cc bike racing in an Enduro bike class. This could be a cool start as it is a slight grade downward ... Its slippery now ; Before the 1st lap finished, it started raining hard and just making a lap was big as the race progressed ...You can't ride in the shiny racing line because it is owl dodo slick so you go over in that sticky stuff ... That will work but you gotta go fast or you ball up and choke the bike. Probably a few clutches burnt up out there. Richard did pretty good on the 2t ..
You can see the mud has almost covered the pipe up after maybe 2 laps ... maybe 1 ... Here is that back side long uphill.. It got really funny there and was a stopper for many , including me Here is what happens as that mud sticks ... That rear fender is about 1/2 packed with mud and stopped his bike ... Richard did great but got hung on that backside hill on the last lap ... That bike weight ~300 lbs I'd guess .. We barely could pick it up ...
Awesome shots - thanks, Ray! Cebu? Ain't that Abu Sayaaf country? I saw an article in MXA where they went racing out in Cebu - even the Mayor/Governor was racing.
Thanks and it was another fascinating day for sure...That mud stopped any real racing but everyone had a good time and it did dry up some later I had already did 1 moto and busted out the beer... The action on that backside hill is hilarious to watch.. They are trying so hard to go up that hill ... That Abu person is further south on the ~southern end of that large island down there ... Cebu is pretty much safe from about all that turmoil ... Most these large islands are safe with only pockets of rebels and such. Locals can help you stay safe so real problems in day to day living. The bike racing of all types here tie back to the politicians as a way to get votes ... Once you are tied with the politicians, its not a bad deal... Feels like protection slightly ... Just a little weird really because they like bikes ...They like everything about a bike ... Its a vote getter for them ... Small mountain races everywhere right before an election ... These races help the local people alot with selling food and beer and water and whatever on race day ... Plus they love watching it ... And free entry ...
Here's a view of the hill that was the stopper ... After the first guys tried 5 laps or so, the old guys got to next ... We were used for track driers I think as bad as the track was, a couple hrs and it would be a lot better and the PRO racers and such could put on a real race maybe ... Our race was reduced to 1 lap ... I felt I had a good chance with my pretty good rear tire... And I was in about 4th place after the first turn and over 1 jump... Not sure why, but over the jump and receiver, I slammed open the throttle, slide all over the place, and crashed ... Everyone drove by and next I clogged up due to no speed, then took the wrong line up the hill in the back and fell over again ... Here is what it was like back there ... You can tell my camera is fogged up also .. About the only line that would workk was over the right where those 2 riders are... Go to the right of that bottom banana tree and with speed you can make it ... I went way left and it sucked over there. So I dug my Husky out a couple times and kept trying to make that lap till the next race started .... so I just got over in the grass and parked it. I had my Klim pants on with some money in my pockets and the ice cream guy came by ..So I just ate ice cream and rested and watched for a while. It was a pretty good view down there. I like the spyder grips but they are too good in this mud... Maybe nothing would work in this stuff ... The other bike had the pillow grips ... Thats the kind I really like. -- My bike is not too bad after the attempted lap ... The stopper ... and clutch burner mud lump. If this would have been a trail ride, I would not have given this to my bike ... But on race day, I'm going out there.
Here's a few more random pics ... Another gate full of riders ... These guys loved that track and rode it during the lunch break and after the racing was finished ... Some crowd shots... The track is getting a little better now... You can see that cool downhill that heads into that big left hand sweeper ... I'm far from a racer but on just about every track I've been on here, I can always cut an inside where no one is going except on the hard pivot point turns that every one can pivot on. My bike count should be 1 > 2t and 1 < 4t ...
