Two more Pinoys racing abroad!

While four Filipinos were testing and gearing up for their campaigns in the FIM Asian Road Racing Championships, two former pinoy local racing champions raced on another continent.

Former MotoIR/PSBK/UBK winners and IRGP Champions Benjo Mendoza and Bryan Ortile joined the Victoria Road Racing Championships (VRRC) in Australia.

Both raced Yamaha R3s in the Supersport 300 class race held at the famous Winton racetrack. Sporting their trademark race numbers when they raced back home in the Philippines, Benjo Mendoza (100) and Bryan “Spark” Ortile (7) finished a respectable 6th and 8th respectively. Their on track batlles reminiscent of their MotoIR days!

Both veteran riders retired from active competition almost five years ago and moved to Australia. Both started racing in he Philippines at a very age in their mid-teens. Both of them progressed with their talent and raced in UBK, IR Cup, MotoIR and IRGP. Both were MotoIR winners – Ortile a double IRGP Champion while Benjo was a strong PSBK racer who challenged Jolet Jao’s dominance in the mid 2000’s.

With both settled down in Australia both men seemed to be bitten by the racing bug again. Both felt like novices once again but are confident thay they will do better next race!

Unlike the factory supported efforts in the ARRC, these two men were just out there to have fun indulging in their first love, motorcycle road racing.

Thanks Benjo and Spark for sharing!

Pictures from Benjo Mendoza