Familiar winners in BRM bike race

 Perennial winners in local cycling events emerged as the top finishers in the inaugural Beach Road Magazine Jungle Bell MTB Bike and Road Race held last Sunday.

Leading the list were Butch Sublemente and Mieko Carey, who prevailed in the MTB and road long course divisions, respectively. Sublemente completed the MTB long course race that started and ended at Paupau Beach and brought bikers to Kimikaze trail, Grotto Road, Autobahn trail, Santa Claus Lane, and Banzai Trail in 49 minutes and 24 seconds. He made it to the finish line about a minute and a half ahead of runner-up Bob Ferrer (50:57) and two minutes faster than third placer Brian Morris (51:22).

Twenty other bikers joined the MTB long course. They were and their times in parenthesis Tyce Mister (52:49), Mark Isip (52:52), Ricky Melchor (54:24), Russ Quinn (55:44), John Arceo (1:00:48), Enrique Suba (1:00:52), Rex Kosack (1:02:58), Jay Diyco (1:05:21), Sean Frink (1:06:38), Arvin Bacani (1:06:46), Reynaldo Joson (1:09:05), Brad Ruszala (1:11:18), Dave Guerrero (1:11:50), Frank Camacho (1:18:24), Jason Tarkong (1:18:30), Jay Jones (1:20:23), Rommel Tiosejo (1:20:25), Jerome Diyco (1:24:08), Joel Tudela (1:30:25), Jose Quan (1:31:08), Joseph Torres (1:31:10), Patrick Demapan (1:32:22), and Bruce Bateman (1:46:22).

In the MTB short, which had bikers negotiate the same course, but did not turn at the Autobahn trail, Santa Claus Lane, and the Banzai Trail, Arnel Cruz crossed to the finish line first at the 43:22 mark. Bernard Laborce (47:38) and Rosalio Quintos (48:34) completed the Top 3.

In the women’s division, Mamiko Oshima-Berger timed in at 1:13:40 to beat Esther Ada (1:16:16) and Sheryl Camacho (1:17:31)

In the women’s road bike race that also started and ended at Paupau with bikers pedaling up at Suicide Cliff, Bird Island, Grotto, and Banzai, Carey submitted 57:18 to prevail against Rima Yamagishi (1:24:46) and Norma Ada (1:31:24).

In the men’s division, Ariel Garcia duplicated Carey’s time, less than a minute ahead of runner-up Aldin Sta. Ana (58:10). Rounding out the Top 3 was Antonee Aguilar (1:00:11).

Meanwhile, race organizer Susan Marchitti would like to thank bikers, volunteers, and sponsors for making the inaugural event possible.

“We were pleased with the huge turnout. On behalf of Beach Road Magazine and the NMICF, I would like to thank you all for coming out to our first Jungle Bell MTB Bike and Road Race. You all made it a success. I would especially like to thank Jim, Heather, Lewie, Mike, Dave, and Vince and all of the other volunteers who put everything together. Everyone did a great job,” Marchitti said.

The organizer also recognized the following sponsors of the race that drew more than 60 bikers: NTT Docomo Pacific, Subway, Brabu Pharmacy, The Athlete’s Foot, Boarderline, PHI Pharmacy, Hollywood Theaters, Megabyte, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Coca-Cola, Pacific Islands Club, Saipan Grand Hotel, Marianas Visitors Authority, Triple J Wholesale, Gold’s Gym, Taro Sue, Tropical Blend Spa, Shell, Delta Management Co., 360 Restaurant, Scoops, National Office Supply, Herman’s Modern Bakery, Saipan Sea Ventures, MARPAC, R & M Printers, and Lollipops.