Champi finally hits paydirt on final race of 2024

Lenard “Champi” Villacanas finally lived up to his nickname by beating motocross legend Justis “Cuki” Alvarez in the Veterans Class in the last race of the season—Round 8 of the 2024 “MOTO IV” Points Race Series—last Sunday at the Cowtown Race Park.

The 43-year-old equipment operator at Construction Materials and Supply, Inc. topped both heats for a perfect 50 points. Alvarez came in second in both heats for 44 points, while former Marianas Racing Association president Charles Cepeda completed the Top 3 with 40 points. Ray Yumul and Bob Ferrer finished fourth and fifth with 36 points and 32 points, respectively.

Aboard his 2022 Yamaha 450 Monster Edition, Villacanas literally had a jackrabbit start on the first heat as Alvarez got snagged on the starting gate and the former never looked back. It was a nice end for the season for the Negros Occidental in the Philippines native as he finished second place six straight times to Alvarez after starting the year with a third-place win in Round 1.

“Weather was not too bad but due to the rains from previous days the track was partly muddy. It was very, very, very hard to beat Cuki. He is the best rider. I am too far from him when it comes to riding. I admire him for slowing down for me so I can catch up.”

Villacanas, who is nicknamed after the 2009 typhoon, dedicated his Expert Class win to his loving and ever supportive family, especially his wife who has backed his motocross hobby 100% since Day 1.

He also thanked his Trench Tech Racing Team family and everyone from MRA, from the president, to the board of directors, and race flaggers. “Thank you for all the hard work and for making it possible for the 2024 seasons to end successfully. We usually practice Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. It becomes a routine to us to spend time at the race track with my family together with our MRA family and friends.”

Results of the other classes will be published in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.