MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines’ 11-time Motocross Rider of the Year Glenn Aguilar of KTM-Access Plus emerged overall runner-up among 21 riders from eight countries in Round 1 of the FIM Asian Motocross Championship at the Sta. Monica International Racetrack in Puerto Princesa City recently.

Aguilar was the top Filipino finisher in the Asian 125 class with 42 points as he checked in second to Indonesian Dede Mulyabi, also on a KTM 250SXF, in Moto 1 and third in Moto 2 of the event also dubbed as the 2008 Motocross Masters of Asia-Puerto Princesa International Motocross Grand Prix.

It was a tough job for Aguilar, who started from eighth place then overhauled riders from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Guam, Iran and Mongolia before grabbing the lead after 12 laps.

But Mulyabi passed him anew and the Filipino finished a close second in the end.

Aguilar also stamped his class against other Filipino riders when he swept both races in the Pro Open class.

He pulled away early and led by as much as 16 seconds over Kenneth San Andres and Jovy Saulog on the eighth lap before wrapping up his victories by a huge margin.

Aguilar, considered the Philippine’s all-time motocross great with 22 national titles—11 in the Pro 125 and 11 in the Pro Open 250cc—competed despite a three-month absence.

He was already contemplating on shifting full-time to a road racing career but was prodded to give it a final go by his son McLean, who also emerged champion in the Peewee class.