‘Hollywood’ tops Big Boy ATV

From left, Big Boys ATV Top 3 Henry Camacho Sr., Christian “Hollywood” Camacho, and Rex Susulin show off their plates/trophies during Marianas Racing Association’s 2021 Monster Energy Point Series Race awards banquet last July 27 at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall. (Mark Rabago)

Christian “Hollywood” Camacho ditched motocross bikes after a nasty spill more than two decades ago in exchange for ATVs.

That decision finally paid off when he was awarded the No. 1 plaque of the Big Boys ATV Class during Marianas Racing Association’s 2021 Monster Energy Point Series Race awards banquet last July 27 at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall.

Camacho dominated the division by winning all six races he took part in the last seven months at the CowTown Raceway Park in Marpi. He scored a perfect 50 points in five of those races and in the last race last July 24, the 37-year-old from Dandan still finished first with 47 points for a series point total of 297 points.

“I started riding in 1999 trying my cousin’s 85cc Yamaha dirt-bike. I never got used to riding a 2-wheel [vehicle]. I think at the time I didn’t have the patience to learn the basics. I just wanted to go out and rip out the track. That was when I learned my first mistake. I went out on the track and crashed. Until this day before each ride I think of the mistakes I made and how not to make those same mistakes,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Good thing he made the shift to four wheels, which he said he’d always liked.

“My parents got my brother and I a LT50 ATV and we would ride around the neighborhood. When my parents saw I was interested in the sport they got me a 350cc Yamaha Banchee. I participated in the 2001 race here on Saipan before journeying off to the mainland to further my studies. I would come back on summer breaks and ride during practices or participate in the races including Smoking Wheels in Guam.”

Camacho’s parents continue to be his biggest supporters and in fact gifted him his current ride—a 2019 Yamaha YFZ450R with a Dasa shorty exhaust, a fuel customs intake, and a vortex fuel optimizer.

The keys to his Big Boys ATV victory was riding smart, conditioning his mind and body, and knowing his competitors.

“At times I would go to the track and not practice at all. Some people have asked me how do I not practice and still come out to race and win. What they don’t know is, I practice mentally. I watch my daughter practice or the other riders, and at the same time I study the track. The track conditions will always change after each bike passes. So I look at my line and check for an alternate line. Or I would look at the track and see where can I improve my time. Just because I’m an experienced rider now, I still take one lap slow to read the track; which lines I can take; the condition of each jump face; and the track condition overall.”
Camacho thanked his family for allowing him to reach the pinnacle of motocross ATV.

“I dedicate this win to my parents most especially my mom who always goes above and beyond for her kids and giving us this opportunity. To my wife, my daughter, and my new born son, my siblings and their family, and my par Jess ‘Money’ Guerrero and his family for always encouraging and supporting me.”

Coming in second to Camacho was Henry Camacho Sr. with 201 points, while Rex Susulin rounded out the Top 3 with 197 points.
In the Mini ATV race, Theresa Borja finished the season No. 1 with 345 points, followed by Jesus Santos and Melvin Reyes with 307 points and 245 points, respectively.

The Peewee ATV was ruled by Brooklyn Susulin with her 280 points with Keoni Rosario coming in second with 244 points. Skylar Togawa was third with 234 points.

First, second, and third place received $200, $150, and $100 cash prizes, certificates of recognition, plus the No. 1, 2, and 3 plates that they can use for next season. First place also got a gigantic plastic cart from YCO True Value.

Results of the rest of the divisions—Power Puff, Pewee 1, Pewee 2, Novice, and Veterans classes—will be published in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.