Glenn Aguilar sweeps international motocross series

Nine-time Philippine motocross champ Glenn Aguilar dominated the Talisay City leg of the 2006 Camel Supercross International Championship Series in front of a rain-soaked but wildly-cheering crowd Sunday at the Talisay Stadium in Negros Occidental. Aguilar swept the pro open and pro 125 categories in the three-part series sponsored by Camel Filters and sanctioned by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (NAMSSA). An afternoon rain stopped Aguilar from displaying a spectacular show, prompting long-time motocross observers to install the former basketball player from Las Piñas as the overwhelming favorite in the next two legs in Ormoc City on Nov. 12 and Iloilo City on Nov. 26. Overall, Aguilar has a perfect score of 50 points under the 25-20-18-16-15 scoring system. Only Kenneth San Andres, dubbed as the heir-apparent to Aguilar, managed to put up a strong challenge in both the pro open and pro 125 categories. A sophomore student at Manila Central University, San Andres stayed with Aguilar for most part of the race and actually kept the crowd on its feet with his own gravity-defying moves in the double and triple jumps. "I'm satisfied with my performance this weekend, even though Kenneth gave me some anxious moments in the racetrack with his daring moves," said Aguilar, the FIM-Asian Supercross champion in 2003. The absence of perennial rivals James Robinson of New Zealand, who was sidelined by a knee injury in Malaysia a few days before the race, and multi-titled Jovie Saulog, who failed to arrive, only made things a lot easier for Aguilar and San Andres. Robinson, who remains hugely popular in this motocross-crazy Visayan city, saw action in the pro 125 race despite the injury, but later begged off due to severe pain on his leg. Another foreign participant, Frank Rios of Guam, competed but ruled himself out of contention following a career-threatening spill near the table top. - GMANews.TV