Dashi claims second win in superbike race

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Dashi Watanabe of Aprilia Grandstar chalked up his second straight victory with another dominating show recently in the second leg of the 2014 Pirelli Superbikes Championship Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

The 20-year-old Fil-Japanese pulled ahead early as he steered his bike almost flawlessly at every corner to strengthen his grip of the  lead and put Team Aprilia on top of this series which is part of the 2014 Motorsports Championship season.

The series is presented by Petronas, sanctioned by the Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA) and sponsored by media partners Racing Beat @ Wave 89.1, Inside Motoring @ DZRJ810khz and Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ DZME 1530.

The hot rivalry between Aprilia’s Watanabe and Ducati’s Raniel Resuello hollered through the spectators area as supporters of both camps loudly cheered for their respective bets when competing riders positioned themselves at their designated spots at the grid just before the race started.

But after the takeoff, shouts of joy from the Aprilia camp dominated the air as Dashi, who was almost two seconds faster than Resuello in the time trials, quickly controlled the pole and stretched the gap by 1.2 seconds by the end of the first lap.

Even as he already secured an unmolested lead, Watanabe’s intensity never waned as he continued to widen the gap the rest of the way before winding up the eight-lap race in 13 minutes, 7.705,  7.529 seconds ahead of  Resuello.