Even after a thrilling final race in the 2024 PSBK season, a familiar name continues to reign supreme.
Minutes before the final race of the 2024 Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK) season, at the Clark International Speedway, the Access Plus Ducati paddock was loose, calm, and a little quiet. The team understood the assignment and knew what had to be done. With a 39-point lead entering race weekend, three-time defending champion TJ Alberto only had to cross the finish line, and the season championship would be in the bag.
Sounds simple enough, but in the world of motorsports, anything can happen.
His closest rival, multi-titled Marvin Mangulabnan, had a tall task: he needed to get his Aprilla to the chequered flag first and hope that Alberto wouldn’t score any points.
As the teams made their way to the starting grid, which saw the return of two prominent racers — former expert class champion, Lawrence Macalinao on another Ducati Panigale V4R, and the “fastest woman on two wheels,” Jacq Buncio, on a Triumph Speed Triple RR — the tension in the air was palpable. There were no smiles at the front row, with Mangulabnan on P1 and Alberto on P2, everything was strictly business.
However, perhaps nerves got the best of the rivals, with their visors down and as the lights went off, for the final time, both didn’t get off the line well, which allowed another former champion, Dashi Watanabe, to take the early lead on his Kawasaki.
This meant Mangulabnan had work to do, as his only chance for the season championship was to win the race. But it didn’t take long for him to find himself up front again.
Alberto, seemed content holding his position at P3, for several laps. A game plan he shared with me a week earlier: “I just have to finish fifth, I won’t take any unnecessary risks.” However, any racer will tell you that once you’re out on the track, sometimes they end up doing things they didn’t plan on, like making a move on someone you know you’re faster than. And with that comes risks.
Nevertheless, Alberto showed discipline and maturity, holding his position, for the first six laps. As he got closer and closer to Watanabe, he finally made his move and got past the four-time champion. With the racers crossing the finish line, Mangulabnan won the battle, winning the finale — but Alberto won the war, popping his signature wheelie as he crossed the finish line in second, which was more than enough for the title for the fourth consecutive year in dominant fashion.
This was a far cry from the close title race from last season, which some consider controversial.
“This is my proudest championship, we showed that we could be a super balanced rider,” a proud Alberto told me after the race as we walked back to his paddock so he could celebrate with the rest of his team.
“The first championship, we were fast, but we were rough on the edges, the second and third championships, we had weaknesses, especially at the Batangas Racing Circuit, and in mixed conditions. This season, we showed we could win in BRC, in Clark, in the wet, dry, from behind, from the front, I’m super happy about this one.”
With the season coming to a close, Access Plus Ducati has proven that after winning 80% of the races this season, they indeed are, once again, the team to beat. And this time, there would be no questions, and with a new Panigale coming next year, the other teams have the unenviable task of trying to figure out how to dethrone the four-time champions.
Banner image from Ducati Philippines.