Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup keeps PH MotoGP dreams alive

Torres riding at Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup

THE PHILIPPINES may be brimming of talented motorcycle racers—the late Maico Buncio, Jolet Jao, Jovie Saulog, and Glenn Aguilar, just to name a few—but none yet has reached the highest level of international motorcycle racing: the MotoGP.

Age, lack of big-name sponsors and international exposure may have hindered them from advancing to a race that would allow them to compete with the world’s most skilled riders and enjoy pan-global television coverage.

Shell Advance is bidding to change all that with the holding of the first-ever Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup. “Shell fuel and lubricants have been at the forefront of international motorcycle racing for many years, including our on-going partnership with Ducati Corse. By supporting the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, we will be opening the door for these young riders who might be potential stars of MotoGP in the future,” said Shell Advance Global Brand manager Kar-Tai Koh.

It was October  last year when 108 riders from all over Asia (four on-line applicants were invited from the Philippines) were put through a rigorous selection process at the Sepang International Kart Circuit in Malaysia, using 125cc Honda underbone motorcycles.

After their respective heats, the riders then proceeded to a shootout where the final 22 competitors were chosen. It should be noted that out of nine countries who sent in hopefuls, only those from China (1), Indonesia (1), Japan (8), Thailand (3), Malaysia (7), Singapore (1), and the Philippines (1) survived the selection process.

22 riders
Twenty-two riders, with ages varying between 13 and 20, make up the first-ever batch of SAATC hopefuls. The lone Filipino entrant, 15-year-old Ralph Kenneth Torres, considered himself lucky to represent the country considering other countries’ riders did not pass the scrutinizing eyes of Alberto Puig, the 1995 Spanish Grand Prix winner who is the series director of SAATC and currently serves as a talent scout for Honda.

Puig has a long and very successful history of spotting and developing talent. Alongside Dani Pedrosa, Puig was responsible for other MotoGP luminaries such as Casey Stoner, Julian Simon, Bradley Smith, Joan Lascorz and Leon Camier.

Asked how was the selection process done, he explained that as a talent scout, he went on track and looked. “To be honest there is no science in this. It is just your own perception of the situation after watching the riders many times; it is based on your intuition and of course on the lap times, which help us a lot. If the lap times are more or less on the same level as our thoughts when we are watching out on-track, you have the perfect combination.”

Puig also explained that the selection process not only considered how the riders handled and maneuvered the bike but also observed their attitude and mental stamina.

Not just lap times

“It’s not just your lap times. More importantly I observed each rider’s critical thinking and decision-making skills as well as mental toughness. Remember, MotoGP is one of the most energy demanding sports in the world,” said Puig during the first round of the SAATC race held in Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

The race served as a feeder race to the first MotoGP race of the year (Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar).

“There’s a reason why we’ve chosen Losail. While these newbie racers won’t be too intimidated by the crowd (Losail’s audience is much smaller compared to other venues), the 5.380 km-circuit is among the most slippery on the MotoGP calendar not to mention features strong head wind, which should be more than enough to test skills, concentration and endurance of the riders,” explained Puig.

Indeed, it was a baptism of fire for Torres who did not finish the race after he crashed on the 8th lap (there were 12 laps in total). “Apart from the fact that this was the first time I raced on the 250cc, Honda NSF250R bike (he only competed in underbone and scooter races), Losail International Circuit is so much different from the tracks I had competed on in the Philippines. It’s longer and wider, and its surface is much smoother. There’s also the sudden gust of wind that that caused my crash during one of my practice runs two days before the actual race,” he related.

The inaugural race in Qatar was dominated by the Japanese as 14-year-old Yuta Date (now with 25 for finishing first), 17-year-old Tsurugi Kitami (20 points for finishing second place), and 13-year-old Ayumi Sasaki (16 points for finishing third) raised their respective trophies at the podium.

Redeem
Fortunately, Torres has six more races to redeem himself—SAATC allows riders to accumulate points from every race—as the event heads to Indonesia on May 11, which coincides with the Indospeed Race Series; China (two races) on June 15, which coincides with the Pan Delta; Malaysia on Sept. 21, which coincides with the Bike Super Series; Japan on Oct. 12, which coincides with the Grand Prix of Japan; and the final leg in Malaysia once more, on Oct. 26, to be held simultaneously with the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

In between races, Torres who is a third year high school student at the Angelicum College in Quezon City, is planning on undergoing more endurance workouts and practice sessions to bolster his bid in the Asia Talent Cup. “I plan on practicing on the tracks around three times a month although I need something to develop mental stamina as I go toe-to-toe with the region’s best young riders,” he said who lauded the Honda NSF250R as a perfect and reliable bike for young riders wanting to enter the MotoGP.

Koh also explained that the Asian market in terms of motorcycle racing is an exciting prospect for growth and through SAATC, we might discover new talents that might become future stars of this fantastic sport event.

Apart from Shell Advance, which SAATC title sponsor and Alberto Puig, the event is run by Dorna, the organizers of the MotoGP World Championship and the eni FIM Superbike World Championship, as well as co-organizer of the MotoGP Red Bull Rookies Cup.