Watanabe Takes MotoIR1 Pole with the Ninja 400

Date posted on April 9, 2022

Renowned racer and riding coach Dashi Watanabe is back competing in the IRGP. The celebrated superbike rider and double IRGP champion dominated the qualifying of the Phoenix Cylomax Racing 4T MotoIR GP/Trophy, one of the categories in the 14th Alpinestars InsideRACING Grand Prix.

Best qualifying lap time in the MotoIR class is the 45.253s registered by Watanabe on the Kawasaki Ninja 400 in the second qualifying session on March 12. Big Bike Medic rider Clyde Relativo got the second position while Ralph Kenneth Torres of WRD-Motul-KYT qualified in third place. Unfortunately, Torres won’t be able to race in the finale of IRGPXIV and he is replaced by Rizaldy Canare, a veteran racer. Team MotoTan’s Josh Reuben Tan is fourth at the starting grid and Fritsy Claveria of 137 SEC Motosupply is fifth. IRGP5 champ John Allen Mendez of RacePro qualified in sixth place but has to comeback abroad and he is replaced by Paul Mark Doblada.

First at the starting grid of the MotoIR1 Trophy class for Novice and Beginner riders is Kirk Tomas Dominguiano of KIXX-KOSO-Yamaha. Second and third are SRD-Spyder-Takara racers Rafael Soriano and Robert Refuerzo. SMOK-SEC Motosupply lady rider Erika Ondillo will start in fourth place followed by Lawrence Peter Llorca of SRD-Spyder-Takara, Team MotoTan’s Jose Homer Sabang III, Dominic Dei Ouano Jabillo of Team MotoTan-Tofu Track Riding and Warren Reyes of Team Gille.

The finale of the 14th Alpinestars InsideRACING Grand Prix (IRGPXIV) will take place at the Tarlac Circuit Hill on April 9 (Free Practice) and 10 (Race Day). Aside from the races, the event will also have an IRGP Expo wherein various brands will showcase products for motorcycles and riders.

The IRGP is the premier race event of the USRA (Unified Sports and Racing Association for Motorcycles, Inc.).

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