Eight young but highly talented riders will be undergoing training under the Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup (HPDC) to fulfill their dreams of being international calibre racers.
From the tryouts announced late last year, Honda has selected the latest batch of talented and highly-disciplined riders to form the 2020 Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup Riders 'Magic 8'.
These riders will go on an intesnsive motorcycle-racing racing program this year, having emerged on top during the Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup (HPDC) Tryouts held recently at the Clark International Speedway (CIS), Go-Kart Racetrack.
The 2020 HPDC Tryouts served as the official selection process for the young riders, who will get to compete for the highly anticipated race. Fourteen aspirants, ranging from 10 to 17 years of age came from as far as Puerto Princesa, Palawan, to show up for the tryouts. Of these young-guns, only eight were picked, including one ‘probationary rider,’ and the remaining five as ‘reserved riders.’
Grooming an international rider
Honda’s HPDC program aims to prepare young riders to compete in international motorcycle racing events. According to Gilbert Sison, Honda Philippines Supervisor for Motorsports, ‘The Magic 8’ is also set to undergo extensive training to help them get a chance to become a full-fledged Honda racer for local and prestigious international competitions.
“Throughout the program, all the qualifiers during the HPDC tryouts will undergo the Honda Racing Clinic, where they will hone their talents. As they compete for this much-anticipated race, we expect to bring out their potential so they can prepare to compete in high-level road racing competitions here and abroad,” added Sison.
The eight HPDC riders, who will compete for the top spot in a local elimination race and the chance to race internationally, will be using Honda’s one-make racing machine, the Honda CBR150R, a 150cc model with MotoGP DNA, designed with precision for a full-trail blazing and complete racing experience.
Since all aspiring racer’s ultimate goal is to compete in prestigious international racing events, the top racer of this year’s HPDC will be given a chance to join competitions abroad, including the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup and Thailand Talent Cup. With continued training an racing success, they could be just like Repsol Honda Racer, Marc Marquez, who recently earned the 2019 World Champion title at the MotoGP World Champions,
The HPDC is in line with HPI’s ONE DREAM campaign, which aims to serve Honda Motorcycles as tools in achieving Filipino’s dreams and unite all motorcycle riders through various fun-filled activities.
The official selected riders are: Trahvys Lyanjoe P. Paralejas; Charles Daniel V. Mangulabnan; Christopher Mangibin; Urielle Jirone L. Olayvar; Timothy Jonathan Ky Rojas; Kurt Dylan D. Matibag; Nathan Manuel C. Chu; and Karl Michael R. De Guzman.
The probationary riders is Kurt Villanueva. Reserved riders are Sean Klein V. Fetalvero; Dharre Vince De Guzman; Laurence Flores; Mark Jay Martinez; and Maxwell Nathaneil Gorospe.
