By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

FOR the Marianas Racing Association, the 2007 Luta San Francisco De Borja Fiesta Motocross Challenge was not all about racing, but also about fundraising.
MRA donated $720 to the San Francisco De Borja Church through Father Sid Ogumoro.
The money came from the entrance fees from the Rota races on Oct. 6.
“Every time we go off island to do races, we donate the entrance fees or any other money gained to the host,” MRA secretary Eleanor Cepeda said.
In March this year, MRA riders went to Rota to do exhibition races in celebration of the San Isidro Fiesta. After the races, they sold tickets and raffled off a brand new PW-50 bike. The tickets sold yielded $947, which was then donated to the San Isidro Church.
“It’s our way of thanking our gracious host and helping out the community,” Cepeda said.
In MRA’s first trip to Rota, the club had only about 15 riders joining the San Isidro races at the Sinapalo track.
When the association returned to the same track, two weeks ago, MRA had a bigger delegation numbering more than 20. They were joined by Guam riders and a few from Rota itself.
“We were very happy that Guam was able to join us this time and help MRA put on a show for Rota,” Cepeda said.
Guam was supposed to join MRA riders during the San Isidro Fiesta races, but problems with the shipping of the equipment prevented Guam riders from doing so.
For the San Isidro de Borja Fiesta race, Seabridge donated one container each for Guam and MRA to transport their bikes.
Joining Guam and MRA riders in the motocross challenge was the Philippine’s Kris Peralta.
Peralta, who competes in various motocross races in the Philippines, was on his fourth tournament in the NMI. He debuted at the NMI track in 2002, returned in 2003 and in 2005.
“I love to race here. The people are very warm and the riders are very good,” said Peralta, who participated in the BB/ATV veteran class and in the 125-250 open class.
He was scheduled to join the 2007 Marianas Motocross Championships last July, but MRA called off the event citing funding problems.
”I was happy that although the Marianas championships were cancelled, I was able to return here and race on Rota for the first time,” Peralta said.