Dela Cruz dela-cruises in Cowtown

Floyd “Pretty Boy” Dela Cruz racked up another day at the races with another first place finish atop his steely steed as the Marianas Racing Association held its first points race of 2006 Sunday at the Cowtown Raceway Park in Marpi.

Dela Cruz earned 50 points by taking both heats of the 125cc Expert class to start the New Year off with a bang, and literally left his competition in the dust when he leapt over the table top to take the checkered flag.

Ellery Cruz was hot on his tail all day and earned 42 points and a runner-up nod for third and second place finishes, respectively. Cruz got an easier ride in the final heat as frontrunner Glenn Pangelinan suffered a flat toward the end of the race. Pangelinan eventually finished the heat in fourth place but ended up with the third overall spot on the day.

Dave Celis rounded out the class with respective fourth and third place finishes that put him fourth overall. Celis will look to improve next month, but Megan Cruz held her own with the boys as she joined them on the course, albeit in the 125cc Novice class.

Cruz proved her mettle by taking a pair of first place finishes over fellow novice Jack Dela Cruz, as both maneuvered alongside their more experienced counterparts.

The most seasoned riders were all left to chase Steve Sablan once again, as the undisputed champion of the Veteran’s Class twice took the black and white with high flying aerials over the famed table top.

Sablan bagged 50 points and rounded the circuit with ease—looking every bit as comfortable on one wheel as with two. Melvin Cepeda pushed his bike to the limit for a pair of second place finishes on the day, and trails Sablan by six points after the opening race of the season.

Dave Berger made a statement early with a pair of third place finishes that net him 40 points in the season opener, while Kiki Ada, Charles Cepeda, and Greg Sablan finished fourth, fifth, and sixth in each of their respective heats.

The story was similar in the 80-85cc Expert Class as the top three finishers took the top three spots in each heat. Manny Flores, Hanky Camacho, and D.J. Camacho took win, place, and show each time they kicked up the dirt, and they look to be close all season long.

The same goes for the riders in the Novice Class as Aaron Pangelinan and Chris-Chris Alepuyo crossed the line one-two in each of their heats on the familiar Cowtown track.