Jakob Sablaya Runs Away with 2018 Petron National Motorcycle Championship

Professional motorbike racer Jakob Sablaya was proclaimed the overall champion of the recently-concluded 2018 Petron National Motorcycle Championship as well at the sixth round of the Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup held this past weekend at the Clark International Speedway.

The race was tight even at the qualifying rounds, with Sean Barcial leading the way at 2:25.729 followed by Kervie Bergania. Sablaya only managed third place with his 2:28.052, but he had the advantage in overall points. Andrei Reyes and Wyner Blente rounded off the rest of the top five.

On the fove-lap battle at the first leg of the finals, Sablaya managed to wrestle the lead from Barcial, but gave it up on the final minute of the race and allowed Barcial to retake top spot. Barcial eventually finished first with his overall time of 12:10.286 with a fasted time of 2:25.708. Sablaya nabbed second place with 12:10.719 overall. Third was Bergania with 12:10.807.

On the last leg of the race, the same three riders were at the front of the pack, each trying to overtake the other two to get to the first corner and break away from the rest. Barcial managed to get there first, but both Sablaya and Bergania were able to catch up quickly, even managing to take the lead at different points of the race. Sablaya rampaged through the last lap, and finished the race at the top spot.

"Masaya ako sa naging resulta ng Round 6 dahil nung race 1, magkakadikit kami nila Kervie Sean, Wyner and Andrei. Hindi ko nakuha ang Lead position sa Race 1, pero hindi ko pinakawalan ang race 2. Kahit nasa P3 ako, kinuha ko yung mga opportunity na nakita ko kung saan ako makaka lusot," said Sablaya whose 280-point total secured him as the 2018 Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup Champion. Barcial had 238 pts, while Reyes had 194 pts to take second and third place, respectively.