‘Pikaboo’ surprises Cuki to win Expert Class

Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez won the Expert Class of Marianas Racing Association’s Labor Day Race last Sunday after beating his father, Cuki, in the sudden-death Heat 2 at the Cowtown Raceway Park in Marpi. (Contributed photo)

Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez finally gave his old man a taste of his own medicine after beating Cuki in the Expert Class of Marianas Racing Association’s Labor Day Race last Sunday at the Cowtown Raceway Park in Marpi.

The younger Alvarez finished second to Cuki in the Monster Energy Drink MRA Point Series last season and came to last Sunday’s race raring to turn the tables on his father.
And he did just that after Shane beat Cuki in the sudden death second heat to, at least in one race, claim to be the best motocross rider in the Alvarez household. In the first heat, the father and son finished tied with 47 points apiece. Alverick made it an Alvarez sweep in the Expert Class when he finished with 40 points to complete the Top 3.

“It’s been my goal to beat my dad fair and square in a race since we started riding again last year. I mean he’s much older now so he isn’t in his prime anymore but he’s still the best rider here, hands down. He beat me in the first heat of the day but since I got second if I were to beat him in the second heat that would make me the overall winner for the day,” he told Saipan Tribune.

What’s amazing is the 26-year-old Financial & Insurance Services Group employee was finally able to get the monkey off his back even while admitting he was physically drained after the first heat.

“I’m not gonna lie I was feeling a little beat after the first heat but right when we got to the starting line I went into hyper-focus mode and was ready to give it my best. My dad took the hole shot from the start and I was about fifth or sixth in the first turn, but after the first jump I was lucky to have a clear lane while the rest were trying to take the same fast line and grouped up. I was able to pass three people including my brother which put me in third place and not too far behind from my dad. I pushed and after two laps I was right behind him. I was feeling really good and was able to pressure him and stick right behind him,” he said.

It was around the fifth lap that Shane finally made the move to pass Cuki and he never looked back until he took the checkered flag.

“I was able to make the pass on him once I found an opening on the turn right after a jump. Once I got in front I knew he was gonna pressure me back so I put the hammer down and rode a hard three laps and was able to widen the lead a little bit. I was feeling on but I also wasn’t sure if he was giving me chance or if he was getting tired,” he said.

Shane delighted that Cuki himself admitted that he didn’t let up just to let his son win.

“After I secured the win he came up to me and told me that I had a blistering fast pace and he just couldn’t keep up even though he was trying. That made me really happy because he told me that I really did beat him fair and square. He’s still the champ this year and I can’t wait to battle it out with him next season and try to steal the No. 1 plate from him. I can’t wait to get back to racing again because there’s nothing like being in that hyper-focus zone while doing something that’s pretty dangerous! Makes it all the more fun!” he said.

Cuki congratulated his son for topping the Expert Class and made it clear he didn’t let him win.

“He kicked my butt fair and square in the second moto! I passed him in the first moto to take the win in Heat 1. And then he did exactly what I did to him in Heat 2 and won the overall.”

He said they were tied in points at the end of the day, with 47 each, but the second race ultimately determined the tiebreak.

“He was on fire in the second moto. No excuses, I just couldn’t match his pace the last three laps of the 10-lap race. I led for like seven laps then he passed me and even pulled away winning by 7 seconds at the checkered flag. So, he won the overall for the day as far as the podium is concerned. He won gold,” he said.

Results of the MRA Labor Day Race’s Peewee ATV, Peewee I, Peewee II, Mini ATV, Mini I, Mini II, Power Puff Girls, Veterans, Novice Big Boy ATV, Big Boy ATV, Newbies, and Novice divisions will be reported in next week’s edition of Saipan Tribune.