Danish team expected to give local riders a run for their money

DANISH Riders are set to give local bets a tough challenge when the first leg of the 2013 Kopiko 3-in-1 Astig Supercross Series gets underway on Jan. 26 and 27 at the South Road Properties.

The J-O Racing team of Denmark, featuring Jens Nielsen, Nikolai Larsen and Mathias Gapgensen, will be among the top contenders in this exciting motorcycle racing event.

Supercross is another kind of motocross racing that features more jumps and obstacles for racers. This kind of race is seen in international races like the X-Games.

The 20-year old Larsen is a two-time Danish champion, a second placer in the European Championships last 2008 and a sixth placer in the world championships last 2008.

Gapgensen, also 20 years old, is also a two-time Danish champion, six-time Sealand champion, a Swedish national champion and an eight placer in the European champion.

The Danish team will be competing in the expert division against top local riders such as John Eleazar Adlawan and Juvenile Abellar.

“We will be having a very difficult time racing against these guys because I have seen them practice in Minglanilla,” said Adlawan during yesterday’s SCOOP Forum.

But Nielsen said the locals have a slight advantage when it comes to stamina because of the warm climate.

“It was snowing when we left Denmark and Cebu is very warm so the climate here tires us fast that’s why we are trying our best to adjust to the climate,” said Nielsen. “We hydrate ourselves a lot so that we will be able to compete in our top shape.”

Neilsen and his team are competing outside of Europe for the first time and they admit they will be having a tough time dealing with the local riders. But they still vowed to do their best not only to win but also entertain the Cebuano motocross fans.

“We are very happy and honored for the invitation of competing here in the Philippines,” said Gapgensen. “We will do our best to win because we trained very hard for this race. At the same time, we also want to enjoy Cebu’s beauty”

A total of P500,000 worth of cash is at stake in this 12-category race, which will also feature some of the country’s best motocross riders. “From 20 teams, we have already 50 teams competing with around 150 riders coming from Mindanao and Luzon,” said race director Edsel Odulio of Man and Machine Racing Promotions.

Odulio, meanwhile, said the Danish team will be special guests in the race. This means they will not be included in the rankings for the “Rider of the Year” award since they will be flying back to Denmark after the race.

From Cebu, the race moves next to Bais, Negros Oriental on February. The series also will hold stages in Bacolod, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Roxas City and Ormoc. One leg will be held in Luzon. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL