Alvarez familia dominates April race

Cuki, Shane, and Mari Alvarez dominated their respective divisions of last Sunday’s the 2024 “MOTO IV” April Points Race Series at the Cowtown Race Park.

Cuki was the top dog in the Veterans Class after winning both heats for a perfect 50 points. Champi Villacanes ws second with 44 points, while former Marianas Racing Association president Charles Cepeda completed the Top 3 with 40 points.

“I decided to just race the Veterans Class only this year because I was feeling a little burnt out racing two classes the past four years—veterans and expert. So winning is a little ‘funner’ because I don’t have to work that hard and I only get to focus on one race! Not to mention, the younger kids are getting really fast,” said the 53-year-old boat captain and sensei at Trench Tech Purebred Gym.

As for his wife and son also winning in April, the Alvarez patriarch said it just made his Veterans Class win a lot sweeter.

“The Alvarez fam has always done everything together. Motocross probably being the main sport since we’ve been doing it since my kids were very young. My two boys and I have all raced since 1998 and Mari joined us not too long after in 2003. So, racing has always been a family thing for us. Our daughter, Shaniah, was the only late bloomer and finally joined us in 2020. Both Alverick and Shaniah live off-island so that’s the only reason why they aren’t racing now,” he added.

Cuki said he, Mari, and Shane try to practice every Sunday. “I ride side by side with my wife during practice runs to push and hone her skills.”

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as Shane also won both heats in the Expert Class to finish with 50 points. MRA president Ellery Cruz was second with 42 points, while Cepeda again came third with 38 points.

“Round 3 was a fun but hot dry and dusty one. Some parts of our track are sand-like dirt so when we blast out of the turns it throws big dust clouds up that make it extra hard to maneuver on the track as sometimes you could be coming in blind. The only way to have a clear track is if you’re up front or right there battling for the lead and taking different lines,” said the 30-year-old Financial & Insurance Services Group staff.

Thankfully, Shane said he was able to get great starts and run up front start to finish to eventually pick up the Expert Class checkered flag.

“Having that clear track makes it a lot easier than it could be. I’d like to thank God for keeping all the riders safe, Trench Tech Racing Team, Cycles Plus Guam, my parents, and all my riding buddies on the track! We all help and push each other on the track when we ride teammates or not. At the end of the day, we’re all family and it’s fierce but friendly competition,” he said.

As for his father and mother also winning in April, Shane said it just goes to show how competitiveness runs in the family.

“We’ve all always been competitive in everything we do and we’ve always done it as a family. Glad we were all able to secure the wins in our classes!”

Mari, for her part, finished with 47 points to nose out Merissa Rasa and Billie Inabo Pangelinan, who finished with 42 and 25 points, respectively, on the Women’s Class.

“I got lucky winning by points. Billie was not able to race the second heat because her bike stalled at the starting line. Crazy but that’s part of racing, sometimes you’re ready but your bike is not. Billie girl is a whole other level, I don’t push myself that hard anymore, for safety reasons considering my age,” said the Alvarez matriarch on how circumstance led to her victory.

Mari said winning is always nice, but it’s all icing on the cake as just being able to race is already a great achievement.

“It’s been hot lately with little or no rain so our track on race day was really dry, dusty, and dirt was loose. Thankfully my bike ran well and I wasn’t sliding much. I dedicate my win to our jiu-jitsu kids who were on Guam competing in the Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament and representing Saipan and Trench Tech. Both my husband and I really wanted to be there for them but we were already committed to another local event in addition to our monthly race,” she said.

Mari also extended her gratitude to the Trench Tech Racing Team and their teammates, specially to Bob Ferrer for repairing her bike before the second heat. “Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been safe to race it. I also want to thank Rep. J.P. Sablan and Speaker Edmund Villagomez for all their support to the TT team.”

The 53-year-old FISG staff also echoed Cuki and Shane’s reaction to the Alvarez family’s domination on the track last Sunday.

“It is always awesome and epic for our family to win together especially that motocross has been a family affair since ever since.”

Results of the other division of the 2024 “MOTO IV” April Points Race Series will be published in tomorrow’s issue of Saipan Tribune.

Cuki Alvarez

Mari Alvarez

Shane Alvarez