Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup Champion Sablaya joins ATC Selection

Date posted on October 30, 2019

Antipolo’s Jakob Sablaya with HPI’s Mr. Gilbert Sison at Sepang, Malaysia.

The young rider from Antipolo, Rizal is now in Sepang, Malaysia to try and follow the footsteps of Ralph Kenneth Torres, McKinley Kyle Paz, Koko Tadachi and Troy Alberto to become the next Philippine representative in the highly competitive Honda Asia Talent Cup (ATC) and race a genuine Moto3 machine at FIM events. The series joins prestigious MotoGP and WSBK races in the Asian region.

Many came but only a few will be chosen to join the ATC.

Like those that came before him, he needs to outshine more than 50 other young riders from all over Asia to get a spot in the international championship supported by Honda and Idemitsu.

Sablaya gets jersey #76

HRC’s Alberto Puig will choose who gets to the ATC grid in 2020.

The selection process will be under the keen eye of HRC Manager and ATC head Mr. Alberto Puig. They will be using identical Honda CBR150R race bikes around the Sepang Kart Track.

While lap times will be noted, it will not be the only basis of the selection. Based on our experience attending previous selections, progression on the bike during the day is also key as well as on track riding techniques and safety in bunch riding.

The group getting ready to ride out on track.

The boys and girls will undergo a stressful and ruthless process of elimination per session. The waiting for the list of riders who will move on to the next round is always a nail-biting experience for the riders, coaches and parents.

They will use Honda CBR150R

Thanks to the tutelage of his ex-racer father Nonie Sablaya, Jakob dominated the 2019 Pilipinas Dream Cup championship racing the latest Honda CBR150R. As a reward and step up, part of the prize is his trip today at Sepang.