Alberto upends top guns, breaks superbikes record

MANILA, Philippines – TJ Alberto of Team Ducati Philippines created a stir as he blasted the top guns off their feet in an earth-shaking, record-breaking debut in the Superbikes Open of the 2016 Pirelli Superbikes Series recently at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Barely 18, Alberto couldn’t believe he upstaged the top of the breed to claim the first victory of the series,  which is part of the 2016 Eneos Philippine Motorsports Championship season.

The event is sanctioned by the Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA) and sponsored by Pirelli and Eneos with media partners Inside Racing Magazine, TORQUE Magazine, Motorcycle World Magazine, Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ DZME 1530, Ride and Drive Phl, Motorsiklo News Magazine and BMW Motorad as official safety car.

Also, it took some time for Alberto to realize that he also  set the new BRC track fastest laptime of one minute, 35.180 seconds.

He completed the 10-lap race in 15:59.485 or 2.536 seconds ahead of former back-to-back champ Dashi Watanabe of Kawasaki.

Another strong contender, Marvin Mangulabnan of BMW Racing Team, checked in third while two other Superbikes Open first timers – TJ’s younger brother Troy Alberto of Team Ducati Philippines and Ralph Kenneth Torres – ended fourth and fifth, respectively.

With the feat, Alberto served polite notice of his aim to be the next king of Philippine Superbikes although many still believe TJ is not yet up there as he has to prove his consistency, defensive strategy and commitment to racing excellence in the coming races.