Yamaha Grand Prix 8 Finals Results

The Yamaha Grand Prix 8 Finals wasn't your usual Championship race. For the first time since its inception, the riders will battle it out in the bright lights of Rizal Park. The national site became an arena where legends are made. As if the heavens favored this historic match, the track was blessed with rainfall as if to baptize the start of the battle.The competing lineup featured the daunting presence of “The Chairman” Masato Fernando and Rising Star Kyle Paz, Powerhouses Vingie Coloma and Mcdon Sande, Racetrack highlight reels Ephraim Onahon and Gian Carlo Mauricio, just to name a few. The best riders from Luzon,Visayas, and Mindanao; went all out to prove who was truly legendary.

New to the race is the Yamaha Sight, the latest product of the World Class motorcycle manufacturer that was built for excellent performance through efficiency and simplicity. The inaugural category had its fair share of thrills with each competitor barely edging out the other using the performance F.I. technology of Yamaha. Gian Carlo Mauricio had the honor of bagging the first Championship of the category.

The Fun Race AT category was no different, where a heated battle took place in every corner. The automatic icon, Yamaha Mio, delivered as much as the riders could and it resulted in a breathtaking battle. In the end, Kenneth Coronel managed to break off the pack and never looked back. The 160 Open AT became an acceleration free-for-all, the larger custom track allowed the riders to go full power. It was a neck and neck race between Miko Montano and Aljon Valencia, with Allan Dela Cruz at striking distance of the two leaders but only one could dominate at the finish line.

The Underbone fun race was enjoyable but that didn’t make it any less competitive. It started as entertaining but developed into a fiery clash. Gary Taplador, Mark Kian Santos, and Joey Villaester starred in an encounter of fuel injected artistry.

The Vega Force i category was a show of true force. Each rider embodied precision and powered through adversity. Masato Fernando entered the race as the dominant favorite but he did not remain unchallenged as he went up against two worthy adversaries in Mcdon Dave Sande and Vingie Coloma. This heavyweight matchup did not disappoint and the crowd went wild as they went toe to toe until the chequered flag.

The Sniper 150 is the King of Street and only the best can claim the throne. It was a battle royale with each rider clawing for the crown. It was a three way masterpiece among Ephraim Onahon, Garry Caneda, and Durraine Dan Carlos. Each turn was a testament to their skill and will to win.

When it was all said and done only a few remained with the right to walk up the podium and raise their hard earned trophies. As confetti fell from the sky, the crowd was looking at their newly minted Yamaha Team Pilipinas and each spot taken wasn’t given but earned on the racetrack. The Yamaha Grand Prix 8 may have ended but for these racers, it’s the beginning of an even greater challenge; taking the Philippines to the next level of global racing dominance.

The Results:

Category	Winners
FUN RACE AT	1st – Kenneth Coronel 2nd – Jasper Beltran 3rd – Allan Dela Cruz
FUN RACE UB	1st – Gary Taplador 2nd – Mark Kian Santos 3rd – Joey Villaester
AT 160 OPEN	1st – Miko Montano 2nd – Aljon Valencia 3rd – Allan Dela Cruz
YAMAHA SIGHT 115	1st – Gian Carlo Mauricio 2nd – John Paul Lantape 3rd – Clint Jay Sande
115 VEGA FORCE i	1st – McDon Sande 2nd – Vingie Coloma 3rd – Masato Fernando
SNIPER 150	1st – Ephraim Onahon 2nd – Garry Caneda 3rd – Durraine Dan Carlos

Martin Nguyen Determined to Make History at One: Legends of the World

Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen completed his climb to the apex of ONE Championship’s competitive 70.3-kilogram weight class by clinching a prestigious martial arts gold against a fierce Russian rival.

The 28-year-old Australian standout knocked out the previously unbeaten Marat “Cobra” Gafurov and laid claim to the featherweight crown in the main event of ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS this past August.

Nguyen may have won the ONE Featherweight World Championship by defeating a tough foe like Gafurov in August, but now he is moving up a weight class and looking to acquire a second world title.

The newly-minted featherweight kingpin is set to challenge Filipino martial arts superstar Eduard “Landslide” Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship in the main event of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

For Nguyen, he savors the opportunity to become the first two-division world champion in ONE Championship history.

“I like Eduard [Folayang]. I said to myself I did not want to compete against someone I like and take away their glory, but opportunities like this do not come around too often. And, if I refused to do this, someone else was going to compete against him and take his glory. So it is strictly business,” he said.

According to Nguyen, he considers his highly-anticipated championship clash with Folayang as a dream come true.

“Following my title win, I took a one-month vacation. But in my mind, I really wanted to compete. I was so eager to return to the cage once more before the conclusion of 2017. My wish came true in the form of this dream match against Eduard Folayang,” he shared.

After signing the bout agreement for the cross-divisional showdown with Folayang, Nguyen immediately headed back into training camp and will train as usual with KMA Top Team in Sydney, Australia to figure out the puzzle that is the ONE Lightweight World Champion.

While the Filipino is a world-class striker, Nguyen has noticed a recurring pattern in his style that could leave him vulnerable in their upcoming title tilt.

“Eduard’s striking is pretty legit. A bit wild, but it works for him. Everyone who gets tagged by Eduard, they walk into every single one of his strikes and put pressure on him. But Eduard is the counter striker, and everyone who comes forward gets hit with a spinning attack, a big right hand, or big kicks,” he explained.

“You have to keep moving against someone like Eduard. If you do not move, then you are a standing punching bag. With my style, I am always moving. If I am going backwards, sideways, or forward, I want to make it hard for him to hit me, and I want to make every bit of my wrestling count,” Nguyen added.

Despite being the taller athlete by a mere three centimeters, Nguyen anticipates being the lighter man on the night of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD.

Nguyen plans to use that to his advantage, believing his speed and dynamism will be his keys to victory in the five-round championship contest.

“My strength in this match is my pace and my cardio. Eduard has legitimate cardio, obviously, training in Baguio City, but going at the pace I go at, I think he is going to fatigue, and my grappling will get the best of him. He is a strong guy, but I will use his weight against him in this match,” he stated.

Nguyen knows that he has quite the challenge ahead of him, especially since he is heading into Folayang’s home turf of Manila in the Philippines.

However, Nguyen is up to the task and trusts in his plan that he will take home the ONE Lightweight World Championship and write his name in history books.

“It is so surreal, Last year, I set my goals. I said to myself, ‘This year, I want to rematch Marat [Gafurov], take the belt off of him, and become a two-division champion.’ I am 75 percent of the way there. I beat Marat, and I got the featherweight belt. Now I am in a super bout for the first time ever in ONE Championship history to become a two-division champion. Everything is falling into place. It is appealing to know all hard work pays off,” he stressed.

Although he has a tough test in front of him on 10 November, Nguyen remains optimistic that a decisive outcome will be in his favor at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD.

“This match is going to be stopped,” he guaranteed. “I would love for it to be a KO, but I see it as a submission or a TKO for Martin ‘The Situ-Asian’ Nguyen, of course.”

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Mindanao Power Supply Restored After Transmission Tower Bombing

Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi immediately convened the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATSEF) to coordinate the restoration of the power services in affected areas in Mindanao. This was done following the attack on Transmission Tower 106 along Kibawe and Sultan Kudarat by suspected terrorists at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 3.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), a member of the IATSEF, was able to tap an alternative power transmission line to temporarily supply the needed electricity. After the bombing of Tower 106, power was temporarily sourced from an alternative route through the Tacurong 69kV line. Because of this, the voltage was being maintained at 45MW due to load limitation.

The NGCP also reported that a rotating load curtailment is being implemented in the franchise areas of Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Cotabato Electric Cooperative and Palma & Cotelco Light & Power to maintain the delivery of power services in the affected areas.

To improve the delivery of electricity service further, a bypass line is being constructed through an excavation for anchors and the setting up of two sets of Emergency Restoration System from the Baloi Substation. As per NGCP, the completion of the other significant restoration works may take two more days.

Cusi reminded the IATSEF to ensure the safety of the personnel performing the restoration works and asked law enforcers to investigate and arrest the bombers.