YAMAHA PHILIPPINES RACING TEAM DOMINATES MOTOIR SEASON OPENER WITH STRONG MULTI-CLASS PERFORMANCE

Yamaha Philippines Racing Team opened the 2026 Motul MotoIR National Championship in commanding fashion, delivering wins, podium finishes, and consistent front-running performances across multiple categories. In one of the most competitive season openers to date, the team showcased depth and execution, securing top results in both Expert and Intermediate classes, along with a podium in the Women’s Championship.

Strong qualifying results set the tone for the weekend, with April King Mascardo securing pole position in the Super Underbone Open GP (Expert), followed by McKinley Kyle Paz in P2 and Timothy Rojas in P4. Across other categories, Justinne Tolentino qualified P2 in the Super Sports Bike Women’s Championship, while JM Malonzo and Zain Doblada also placed competitively, positioning Yamaha riders across the front rows in multiple classes.

In the sprint races, Yamaha converted pace into results as Mascardo and Paz finished P2 and P3 respectively in the Super Underbone Open GP (Expert), while Rojas secured P5. JM Malonzo added another strong result with P2 in the Super Underbone Open GP (Intermediate). In Sunday’s main races, Mascardo delivered a dominant P1 finish in Super Underbone Open GP (Expert) Race 1, while Paz produced a standout recovery ride from the back of the grid to finish P2. Mascardo also claimed P1 in the Super Underbone LTD GP (Expert), with Paz adding P3, while Tolentino secured a podium finish with P3 in the Women’s Championship.

The weekend also brought challenges, including a first-corner incident that forced retirements for Zain Doblada and JM Malonzo in the Super Underbone LTD GP (Intermediate). A more serious crash involving Timothy Rojas in the Expert class resulted in a red flag and medical attention; he sustained a left forearm injury and is expected to miss Round 2 as he recovers. Despite setbacks, Yamaha Philippines Racing Team closed Round 1 with strong momentum and now turns its focus to Round 2 of the championship on May 2–3 at Tarlac Circuit Hill, carrying confidence, data, and proven race performance across all classes.

MOTUL MOTOIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 RESULTS

Yamaha Philippines Racing Team