New Zealand’s Tim Wenden and NMI’s Cuki Alvarez battle for the position during Turkey Cross 2022 at Cow Town Raceway Park.
Guam Motorcycle and ATV Corporation President Jeff Rios and Marianas Racing Association President Charles Cepeda pose with the “Thank You” trophy.
THE NMI and Guam gave the greatest show that extreme sports fanatics could have wished for during Turkey Cross 2022 hosted by the Marianas Racing Association on Saturday and Sunday at Cow Town Raceway Park.
“MRA is extremely happy with the number of riders from Guam that had come to Cow Town to participate in Turkey Cross 2022,” said MRA President Charles Cepeda.
Thirty-six Guam racers — 4 to 66 years old — participated in the event.
“There were fans who came on Friday during practice and even more on Saturday all day,” Cepeda said. “On Sunday we had a great crowd that was treated with adrenaline-filled races between Guam and the NMI.”
PeeWee
Guam’s Kiko Grey won first place in the PeeWee 1 class with a perfect 50-point performance followed by Kyan Mayo in second place with 44 points.
The NMI’s Keenon Togawa claimed first place in the PeeWee II class with his own 50-point performance while Cason Brooks took second place with 44 points.
In the PeeWee ATV class, Rockson Cabrera earned the first-place finish after breaking the tie against Giancarlo Lorenzo, both sharing 47 points, by topping the second-heat.
Minis
In the Minis I class, Guam’s Alize Mondia stole the show with a 50-point finish beating Talen San Nicolas and Daniel Salas, also from Guam.
In the Minis II class, Richard Wenden from New Zealand bagged a 50-point finish and bested Guam’s John Aguon (42 points) and the NMI’s Billie Pangelinan (36 points).
In the Minis ATV class, Guam’s Gavin Lorenzo shined the brightest with another flawless performance while the NMI’s Anella Igitol and Kassidy Camacho took second and third places.
Power Puff Girls/Mama
In the Power Puff Girls class, the NMI’s Billie Pangelinan reigned supreme with a 50-point finish while Nanako Celis took second place and Guam’s Jo’naye Cruz came in third.
In the Mama class, Maribel Igitol finished first with 50 points followed by Mari Alvarez with 44 and Marissa Rasa with 40.
“The races were amazing, almost every class had a good battle that included Guam vs the NMI. Some had all NMI racers, some had majority Guam racers, but the competition was just as exciting,” Cepeda said. “Two days of racing gave the riders a chance to gauge the competition and adjust. There were strategies shared and strategies concealed for the Heat Race #2 on Sunday.”
Legends and other classes
In the Legends class, MRA President Charles Cepeda stole the show with a 50-point finish ahead of Dave Burger and Guam’s Kim Aiken.
The Expert Open class was led by Cuki Alvarez, who clinched the tiebreaker against his son Shane Alvarez with 47 points apiece.
In the Intermediate class, the NMI’s Corry Pangelinan topped the competition with a 50-point finish while Ethan Yumul also scored 50 points in the Novice class.
Cuki Alvarez’s attempt to win a second trophy was foiled by New Zealand’s Tim Wenden in the Veterans class tiebreaker with both sharing 47 points.
Lastly, in the Big Boy ATV class, Christian Camacho clinched first place with a 50-point performance.
“Motocross is definitely back in the Marianas,” Cepeda said. “The Turkey Cross riders are a testament that it will continue into the far future and will produce great motocross legends in the Marianas.”
Cepeda noted that Turkey Cross 2022 is the first race event since 2006-2007 that featured riders from the NMI and Guam.
“Riders from both islands were feeling each other out,” Cepeda said. “Saipan riders had an advantage with their home track at Cow Town Raceway Park while Guam riders had one and half day of practice on the track. I say both have very talented riders that will eventually be friendly rivals as both islands continue to grow motocross.”
Thank you
MRA wants to thank the following:
“Guam Motorcycle and ATV Corporation for coming out to Saipan and bringing over 100 racers, supporters and sponsors. We certainly hope you enjoyed your stay in the NMI during the Thanksgiving weekend. To all those who stayed out in the sun for two whole days, the announcers, the national basketball team who were our flaggers, the JROTC cadets who assisted in traffic and parking control, start officials, 30 seconds officials, scorekeeper officials, track marshals, and all others — MRA thank you for your time and energy for the work you did throughout the two days.
“Thank you to GMAC President Jeff Rios who coordinated from the Guam side. Most especially for bringing his personal CAN AM Side by Side UTV for exhibition and ride-along during intermission. To the MRA Board, VP Cuki Alvarez, Treasurer David Burger, Secretary Eleanor Cepeda, Director Bridgette Camacho (also coordinator for banquet, scorekeeper, and do-it-all), and to everyone who supported in any way, such as Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office, DFEMS-EMT, Office of the Governor, Grants Office, Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Works, Department of Public Lands, DCCA, Saipan Stevedore, APL Shipping Lines, Matson, Monster Energy, MVA and many more thank you! MRA looks forward to more collaboration in building sports tourism in the NMI.”
