Round 7 Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships Release

8 May 2023 by Robert Bucek

Press Release
Guam International Raceway Motorcycle and Atv Corporation
2023 Monster Energy Guam Motocross Championships Round 7

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 Offroad 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 2nd 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
1st 1 JR Cepeda
2nd 31 Tim Wenden
3rd 85 Blaze Aiken
4th 18 Little John Aguon
5th 55 Carlo Pangelinan
6th 20 Zack Cruz
7th 51 Frank Rios
8th 75 Jeff Rios
9th 77 Gorio Perez
10th 96 Edward Sandlin
11th 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
1st 14 Pierre Banes
2nd 4 Robert Bucek
3rd 88 Cam Lorenzo
4th 11 John Gilman
5th 27 James Lujan

In other class results

Novice Open Atv
1st 12 Austin Blaz
2nd 171 Glenn Malenfant
3rd 75 Ericka Santos
4th 444 Peter Grey
5th 18 Austin Quinata

Womens Open Atv
1st 75 Ericka Santos

Midrange Atv
1st 18 Austin Quinata

450cc Motorcycle
1st 7 JR Cepeda
2nd 1 Little John Aguon
3rd 51 Frank Rios
4th 77 Gorio Perez
5th 75 Jeff Rios
6th 96 Jude Sandlin

250cc Motorcycle
1st 31 Tim Wenden
2nd 85 Blaze Aiken
3rd 55 Carlo Pangelinan
4th 20 Zack Cruz
5th 27 Marvin Pangelinan

Over 40 Vet Motorcycle
1st 33 Tim Wenden
2nd 55 Carlo Pangelinan
3rd 77 Gorio Perez
4th 51 Frank Rios
5th 75 Jeff Rios

Over 55 Legends Motorcycle
1st 51 Frank Rios

Novice Open Motorcycle
1st 8 Kanen Arceo
2nd 22 Mourice Jones
3rd 177 Colin Perez Kirk
4th 31 Mariana Wenden
5th 180 Colton Engling
6th 88 Dana Tamayo

School boy/girl
1st 8 Kanen Arceo
2nd 31 Mariana Wenden
3rd 180 Colton Engling

Womens Open
1st 31 Mariana Wenden
2nd 88 Dana Tamayo

Kids Open Minibike
1st 8 Jonathan Aguon
2nd 21 Chris Leon Guerrero
3rd 4 Landon Grey
4th 226 Maddox Monnin

85cc Kids Minibike
1st 8 Jonathan Aguon
2nd 21 Chris Leon Guerrero
3rd 4 Landon Grey
4th 7 Maddox Monnin

65cc Kids Minibike
1st 28 Julian Lane
2nd 38 Traevin Blaz
3rd 67 Chaene Aperocho
4th 100 Cannen Brooks
5th 18 Jeriah Guzman

50cc SR Kids Minibike
1st 44 Kiko Grey

50cc Kids Minibike
1st 6 Owen Harris
2nd 7 Liam Ries
3rd 27 Cainen Gumabon
4th 100 Kyan Mayo
5th 23 Gianna Lane
6th 415 Monique Monnin

Kids Mini Atv SR 1
1st 18 Austin Quinata
2nd 7 Gaven Lorenzo
3rd 40 Tayden Blaz

Kids Mini Atv SR2
1st 4 Kyan Mayo
2nd 555 Ava Harris
3rd 11 Alana Quinata

Kids Mini Atv Intro
1st 88 Giancarlo Lorenzo
2nd 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 21st . Racers along with their friends and families expressed their gratitude to have had such a great facility as the Jose and Herminia Calvo Memorial Offroad 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.