RIP Maico Greg Buncio

Maico Greg Buncio: Official statement from the family and from Suzuki Philipines

The Philippines’ fastest man on two wheels, record-breaking biking champion Maico Greg Buncio died Sunday afternoon (May 15, 2011) after suffering serious injuries from a crash during the qualifier race the day before in the Clark Speedway Circuit. Travelling at high speed, his bike had slipped into loose gravel on the shoulder of the speedway. Buncio was thrown off 100 meters from his bike, crashing into an unfinished barrier on the speedway where a protruding steel bar punctured his body and damaged his kidney and liver. He was rushed to a nearby hospital before being brought to the UST Hospital early morning of Sunday, but the doctors’ efforts were in vain, and he passed away at 3:57pm.

Buncio is this year’s Golden Wheel Awards’ Driver of the Year. The 22-year old motorcycle rider is a member of Team Suzuki Pilipinasand is the country’s official representative to the Asia Road Racing Championships.

The young motorcycle rider proved his mettle when he broke the underbone- and 400cc superbike-class lap records at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) with a time of 00:02:07 and 00:01:37, respectively. His most recent record is timed at 00:01:37 posted in July 2009 in the 600cc superbike-class, which was also held at the BRC. He won the Superbike category four years in a row.

Buncio is also a seasoned rider in motocross, having won the 1996 FBO Motocross Series at TRAKSNIJAK Race Track in Tagaytay City (10-year old and below, 50cc class) and the 2002 FMF Memorial Day Motocross Races at Perris, California (14-year old and below, 85cc mini class).

His body lies in state at Loyola Memorial Chapels Guadalupe. Interment details to be announced later.

EILLEEN ESTEBAN
Corporate Communicaions Manager
Suzuki Philippines