The Idemsitu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be extending the thrill and excitement of the adrenaline rush this weekend at Mobility Resort Motegi for its Round 3. Energised and motivated to keep the momentum going is no other than Gian Carlo Mauricio of UMA Racing MMR YAMAHA Philippines who will be back to get in line for another taste of success.
The Filipino rider came into the limelight of UB150 back in 2022 as a debutante and while the stakes were high for him especially with highly-competitive riders, he took a more reclusive approach to learn and adapt. By season 2023, his persistence paid off when he climbed up a couple of positions higher in the overall chart. This season, he may not have immediately jumped to a colourful start especially when he claimed “DNF” in Race 1 but his moves in the previous round at ZIC definitely earned him a round of applause when he barged in victoriously to the chequered flag, bagging his first ever win since his debut.
The Underbone race category is beyond speed and technical experience. It is also about making calculative moves and taking risks. Strategic-thinking is a fundamental ability, much-needed in accentuating prowess when it comes to being recognised in this race category. Gian Carlo may be a somewhat reserved lad in nature but on the circuit ground, he has definitely given a glimpse of his wild side and his capability in combining the crucial aspects for the best result.
Commenting on the race, Gian Carlo said, “It was least expected, winning the race but I was so thrilled that I could catch up with the lead pack since I have been among the last in the last lap. I was very careful with the race and my goal has always been about finishing the race to obtain points. In Zhuhai the other day, I only had one thing in my mind that reiterated, “Don’t think, just act!” and that helped me close the gaps with the other riders. I went on to take risks on my part and before I knew it, I was already among the front troopers. That was when I saw hope and knew I could do it. I stayed consistent with the strategy and I won! I have definitely come a long way. I have improved especially on phasing. Before that, I used to have a hard time on grasping the flow because I felt pressured and more so when I made mistakes. But now that I have overcome that, I can now focus on executing the strategies in a more uniformed manner. With that too, I have gained better self-confidence after a 2-year drought.”
“In my homeland, I do a lot of training because I need to condition myself in every race. I do a lot of jogging lately to improve on breathing. Our team’s goals have always been consistency in every lap and I have also hit the gym to work out on my physique. On the race track, we do the basic training, improve on braking and I ensure that I complete at least 15 laps. During my free time, I also play the MOTOGP console game and I survey the track virtually to familiarise. As for the Motegi circuit and based on my observation, the track has many high-speed corners and downhill straight at turn 11. That caught my attention as it is one of the overtaking points. This definitely requires great braking skills and would be challenging. I am quite satisfied with the current engine as the durability has improved and the power is also better. But I still think there is room for improvement in terms of power which is the focus of my team at the moment. We are also doing some testing on new parts for better outcome. The goal is to be more competitive and to become the overall champion. So, let’s see how it goes.”