Wonderboy Paz over delivers in Portugal JrGP Euro Moto2

Filipino racer McKinley Kyle Paz finished both Moto2 races in the top 10 positions in Circuito Estoril in Portugal.

The Yamaha Philippines Stylobike rider rode his Kalex Moto2 bike in a mature and consistent manner to finish both races in strong scoring positions. This netted him enough points for a top 6 in the point standings after 2 races.

It is Paz’s sophomore year in the FIM Junior GP European Moto2 Championships and he is expected to do well. His first season in 2021 with the VR46 Master Camp Team was a learning year and he paid the tuition of numerous race crashes while in points scoring positions. There were many bright points last year which were enough to merit another campaign for 2022.

For 2022, Yamaha Philippines stepped up the program a notch and partnered with a top running European team, Stylobike Racing, for Paz to ride. With the help of SEC Motosupply, Paz will campaign a top of the libe Kalex bike with the latest specification 800cc triple engine, the same bike used in the current World Championships.

He started the weekend by qualifying for both races in 16th place out of 31 riders in the combined grid of Moto2/Stock600 grid.

Watched live online by his legion of Pinoy fans and a big group of  Philippine motoring media assembled at BGC in Taguig City by YMPH, Paz gave one of the best performance of his young Moto2 career so far.

In Race 1, he started last in P31 (probably to some post qualifying penalty since he timed 16th fastest in QTT) and slowly carved husxway up. Race 1 was marred by a red flag due to multiple crashes. At the restart, Paz again made steady progress through the fueld and climbed to P15 midway of the race. Mistakes and crashes of the riders in front eventually gave Paz P12 on the road and P9 in Euro Moto 2. A great top 10 finish!

The team proved to be a strong one as his European team mate Alex Escrig finished on the podium in 3rd place. Pinoy viewers were elated to see Paz and Mr. Jordan Cornista celebrating with the team in Parc Ferme after the race.

Pinoys got a 2 hour break to celebrate and congratulate Paz and the team before Race 2. This time, Paz would start in mid-pack or P16, and everyone is excited to watch the progress up the field that he will make again like in Race 1. He made a proper start again and this time, the blue bike #32 was visible in the screen, taking the wide outside line into Turn 1 before tipping in and eventually landing somewhere in P13!

He was  up to P12 and was in sight of the top 10 bunch! A few laps later he was captured by the live camera trying to outbrake a rider for a position. But unfortunately, the race was red flagged with 15 laps to go for the second consecutive race when 24 y.o. Wilford from Australia tried to save his bike and held on until he hit an unprotected armco barrier.

At the restart, Paz again made a good launch and was immediately up to P12 . Last year, when Paz was in a similar good points scoring position, he would get excited and push even more and half of the time he would crash and exit the race. Not this year, as Paz calmly maintained his pace and even lapped as quick as the leaders. He would eventualky finishing P8 just a position behind his team mate Escrig! Because of his running at the front, commentators have stareted to notice and mention ” The Philippines’ Kyle Paz..” during the broadcast.

With his two top 9 finishes in the points. Paz now lies 6th in the European Standings after 2 races. There are no other Asian riders to scire points so far.

“First of all I would like to thank God for keeping me safe this weekend. This race was very special for me. In Race 1, I started from P31 and I finished the in  P9 and in Race 2 I finished  P8. We did a strong start this year and I would like to thank my team Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Racing Team for doing their great job for this week end. And also to my family, friends and specially to my girlfriend and all of my supporters in the Philippines,” said Paz on his social media page.

Truly, it was a proud and satisfying moment for all Pinoy race fans and enthusiasts. Thank you Yamaha Motor Philippines and SEC Motosupply.

Photos from Stylobike, YMPH, JnrGP and Paz

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