MRA president: More things to look forward to next season

With the awards banquet concluding the 2023 Monster Energy Points Race Series season last Saturday at the Saipan World Resort, Marianas Racing Association president Charles Cepeda said there’s again a lot to look forward to for next season.

The usual seven-race season begins in January, with a race on the last Sunday of each month—and sometimes a month is skipped for the Smokin’ Wheels race in Guam or for other events.

Even before the start of the next season, MRA is already gearing up the track with new bells and whistles before the arrival of Guam racers for the November 2023 TurkeyCross.

One such addition is two finish-line towers for scorekeepers, along with new grids in the starting-line for all 20 slots.

Along with those, there are two new lanes that will make the track much longer, and a kid’s/beginner’s track. Cepeda said they are trying to get it done by this Sunday. He also hopes that in the future, they acquire more land to set up more tracks to entice more racers to return and capture the interest of new ones.

As for how the 2023 season went, Cepeda said that there were lots of bikers that left the club, but hopes that for the coming season, more racers will come in.

With the exit of some members being the downside of the 2023 season, Cepeda said the upside was MRA’s participation in the Smokin’ Wheels Guam competition, and the reconfiguration and addition and expansion of the tracks.

For the racers that did compete in the 2023 season, he said, they “were very competitive.” With that competitiveness, Cepeda said he had to remind them a few times to enjoy and have fun with the sport.

Cepeda added as the competitiveness went up, so did the rider’s skills. “The skill level and performance has been great. I’ve seen tremendous improvements all across, especially those who stay riding—hence why we needed to expand the track and added more challenging jumps—but still try to keep it fun.”

He then thanked the Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor, Saipan Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Works, Department of Corrections, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Monster Energy, and Joeten Motors.

He also gave the biggest thanks to the MRA members and its board members.