INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?A pair of topnotch riders from Japan dominated the premier class of the 2009 Flatland 2K9 BMX bike competition at the Venetian Mall Park at The Fort in Taguig City on Sunday.

York Uno, a 34-year-old professional from Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture, bested compatriot Shintaro Mizawa in the thrilling finals to put away the championship of the inaugural international division.

Uno?s perfectly polished riding had already nailed him a slot in the 2019 World Flatland Championship and the gold medal in the Asian X-Games 2004.

?This is a difficult venue, it is slippery and bumpy but I love to race here,? said Uno, the rider better known worldwide as The Pioneer. ?Filipinos are hungry for competition but I believe they will do well abroad.?

Uno?s victory boosted his yearend ranking to No. 8 in the World BMX Flatland Circuit.

Coco dela Cruz of La Union shared the limelight with Uno by emerging as the best local rider in the two-day races sponsored by Mega World, Columbia, Tribu and Pulp Magazine and backed by David?s Salon, Rollapaluza, DC Shoes, Royal Elastics, and Edge.

Dela Cruz reached the semifinals but lost to Mizawa. He eventually settled for fourth place after bowing to Hezlan Ghafar of Malaysia in the battle for third.

Mig Reyes ruled the national division after the auto mechanic from Pasig City upended Neil Quiogue and Sharmy Grimaldo.

Last year?s champion Renz Vence moved up to the international division but fared not as brilliantly as Dela Cruz.

The other category winner was Anthony Bitancor, a cell phone technician from Cavite who topped the BMX MTB Street Open. Randy Zabal from Marikina and Daboy Pineda finished second and third, respectively.

?We are happy with the results of the event as we were able to attract the likes of Uno and other top international riders in the inaugural international race,? said Joel Gonzales from event organizer Flipbykes.

?We expect more foreign riders to compete next year.?