Cepeda reelected president of MRA

Marianas Racing Association president Charles Cepeda, third from left, poses with the rest of the 2023 officers of MRA following last week’s elections at the NMSA conference room inside the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Also in photo are, from left, Dave Burger, Cuki Alvarez, Eleanor Cepeda, Bridgette Camacho, Ellery Cruz, Dave Celis, and Patrick Togawa. Not in photo is Ray Yumul. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Marianas Racing Association president Charles Cepeda has been reelected at the helm of the motorsports club for yet another two-year term.

Along with Cepeda, Justis “Cuki” Alvarez also returns as vice president. Ditto for treasurer Dave Burger and secretary Eleanor Cepeda.

Also reelected for a new term is Bridgette Camacho on the MRA board, while Ray Yumul returns for another tour of duty as board member after resigning last year.

MRA, meanwhile, welcomed Ellery Cruz, Dave Celis, and Patrick Togawa as new members of the board. They replace Henry Camacho Sr., Vanessa Camacho, and Amanda Cruz who all finished their two-year terms as board members of MRA.

Cepeda thanked the board for giving him a fresh two-year term as president of MRA.

“Thank you for accepting the nomination and the election result from the MRA members. The election of officers are from you, the new board members. I am humbled by your confidence in me to continue as president.”

He also extended his gratitude to the MRA membership who entrusted him and the board to stir the motocross club for the next two years.

“So many of you took the time to attend the meeting, a total of 77 members young and old came to show their interest in MRA’s future. I assure each of you that we, the board, will continue to grow MRA and provide the best possible for motocross in the CNMI.”

Cepeda and company were elected following last week’s elections at the NMSA conference room inside the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Last week, Cepeda proudly proclaimed that MRA had a banner year in 2022.

“The year 2022 for Marianas Racing Association was very successful. I would rate it a 9 on a scale of 1-10. MRA successfully held seven points series races and a grand race participated by our racing family from the Guam Motorcycle and ATV Club. Putting together these races was a huge accomplishment by the MRA board members of 2022,” he said.

Cepeda said 2022’s highlight was hands down the TurkeyCross Race.

“I’d say thighlight for MRA was definitely the huge success of the TurkeyCross Race held on the weekend of Thanksgiving with over 30 riders from the GMAC joining the race.” 

The MRA president believes this is so because it showed that Saipan riders have steadily improved and are at par with riders from Guam.

“It showed the improvement in riding skills for all MRA members. Not only in the competition level but the riders’ improvements overall. It is highlighted in the number of crashes during the points series in 2022. MRA did not have any major injuries and the number of crashes during the races have decreased to almost none.”  

The decrease in crashes came even as MRA welcomed new members and added new divisions such as the Intermediate Class and the Mama’s Class for the TurkeyCross, which was for one weekend only during the TurkeyCross Race.  

As far as improvements on the Cowtown Race Track this year, Cepeda said MRA added an additional jump, widened the turns, put in new dirt, and also expanded the pits area.  

“We are hoping to expand with a mini track for beginners by the start of the points series in 2023,” he said.

MRA is a non-profit sports organization committed to off-road racing in the CNMI and off-island.