Kopiko Supercross: Danes 1-2-4
NIKOLAJ Larsen of Denmark had more trouble battling the humidity than the rest of the field in the Kopiko Astig 3-in-One Supercross Series in Cebu over the weekend.
After adapting to the heat, and even on a muddy South Road Properties track here, however, the World No. 6 rode practically unchallenged, sweeping both heats for a dominant victory over teammate Mathias Johnson.
Cebu’s Jonjon Adlawan salvaged third in the centerpiece event.
“When we first arrived, I could only do four laps (of practice) and that was it,” Larsen said, adding the Danish delegation left their country in freezing temperatures. “But every day in practice, we got more and more accustomed to the heat.”
Some of the riders whom Larsen outclassed included Filipinos Glenn Aguilar and Jovie Saulog and Danish youth champion Sebastian Kaergaard.
Aguilar suffered a nasty spill in the final tabletop, allowing Kaergaard to sneak in and seize fourth spot.
“It’s a great track, very challenging,” said Larsen, who also dominated the Pro Series category. “We’ve had a great time in the Philippines and we are looking forward to coming back.”
The two-day event lured 139 riders from 62 teams who vied in several categories, and the number of people that watched the event—about 40,000—clearly showed that the sport is very much alive in the country.
“We’ve had a very exciting week, and we’re glad we could do this for the riders,” said Jonas Adlawan, the president of the organizing Man & Machine outfit. “We’re very thankful to Kopiko for helping the sport, and to the foreign riders for helping us measure ourselves against the world’s best.”
Over P500,000 were given to the top finishers in each of the 15 categories. The next leg of the Kopiko Supercross takes place in Bais City in Negros on Feb. 23 and 24. Musong R. Castillo
