Yamaha Philippines Racing Team Dominates MotoIR Season Opener with Strong Multi-Class Performance
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WINS, PODIUM FINISHES, AND RELENTLESS RACING DEFINE A POWERFUL START TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Yamaha Philippines Racing Team delivered a commanding performance in Round 1 of the Motul MotoIR National Championship at Tarlac Circuit Hill, asserting its presence across multiple categories in one of the most competitive season openers to date.
STRONG QUALIFYING SETS THE TONE
The team entered race weekend with authority, locking in front-running positions across key categories. In the premier Super Underbone Open GP (Expert) class, April King Mascardo secured pole position, followed closely by McKinley Kyle Paz in P2 and Timothy Rojas in P4, establishing an early Yamaha presence at the front of the grid.
Across other categories, the depth of the team was equally evident. Justinne Tolentino qualified P2 in the Super Sports Bike Women’s Championship, while JM Malonzo and Zain Doblada positioned themselves competitively in their respective classes, setting the stage for a strong race weekend.
DAY 1 SPRINT RACES DELIVER EARLY RESULTS
Saturday’s sprint races saw Yamaha convert strong qualifying positions into podium finishes. In the Super Underbone Open GP (Expert) Sprint Race, Mascardo and Paz maintained their front-running pace, finishing P2 and P3 respectively, with Timothy Rojas securing P5 in a highly contested field.
JM Malonzo added to Yamaha’s tally with a P2 finish in the Super Underbone Open GP (Intermediate) category, reinforcing the team’s consistency across multiple classes.
DAY 2 MAIN RACES SHOWCASE DOMINANCE
Sunday’s main race program highlighted Yamaha’s strength and execution.
In the Super Underbone Open GP (Expert) Race 1, Mascardo delivered a commanding performance to secure P1, with Paz completing a remarkable charge from the back of the grid to finish P2. Starting last due to a strategic motorcycle change, Paz’s recovery ride stood out as one of the most impressive performances of the weekend.
Mascardostarted his dominant form in the Super Underbone LTD GP (Expert) earlier in the day, securing a P1 finish, while Paz added a P3 podium to further strengthen Yamaha’s hold across categories.
Justinne Tolentino delivered a strong performance in the Super Sports Bike Women’s Championship, finishing P3 and securing a podium for the team.
CHALLENGES FACED WITH RESILIENCE
The weekend also brought difficult moments that tested the team’s resolve.
In the Super Underbone LTD GP (Intermediate), both Zain Doblada and JM Malonzo were forced to retire after a first-corner incident, cutting their race short.
A more serious incident occurred in the Super Underbone LTD GP (Expert) for Timothy Rojas who was involved in a crash following contact with another rider’s fallen bike. The race was red flagged as medical teams responded immediately. Rojas sustained an injury to his left forearm but returned later in the day in good spirits to support the team. He is expected to miss Round 2 as he focuses on recovery.
A STATEMENT IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE FIELD
This season’s MotoIR National Championship features one of its most competitive lineups, with top riders across the country elevating the level of racing. Against this backdrop, Yamaha Philippines Racing Team’s results stand as a clear statement of performance.
From multiple race wins to consistent podium finishes across categories, the team demonstrated that its success is built on depth, preparation, and execution rather than expectation.
Mascardo’s continued momentum following his ARRC podium performance further highlights Yamaha’s strength across both international and national stages.
EYES ON ROUND 2
With a dominant opening round behind them, Yamaha Philippines Racing Team now looks ahead to Round 2 of the MotoIR National Championship, set on May 2 to 3 at Tarlac Circuit Hill.
Carrying momentum, confidence, and valuable race data, the team remains focused on pushing further across all categories and continuing to set the standard for performance in Philippine racing.
Unified and relentless, Yamaha Philippines Racing Team continues to prove that its strength lies not just in individual results, but in its ability to deliver across the entire grid.
MOTUL MOTOIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 RESULTS
Yamaha Philippines Racing Team
SUPER UNDERBONE OPEN GP (EXPERT)
Race 1
- P1 – April King Mascardo
- P2 – McKinley Kyle Paz (from back of grid)
Sprint Race
- P2 – April King Mascardo
- P3 – McKinley Kyle Paz
- P5 – Timothy Rojas
- SUPER UNDERBONE LTD GP (EXPERT)
- P1 – April King Mascardo
- P3 – McKinley Kyle Paz
SUPER UNDERBONE OPEN GP (INTERMEDIATE)
- P2 – JM Malonzo
SUPER SPORTS BIKE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
- P3 – Justinne Tolentino
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credit: Yamaha Motor Philippines
