Access Plus Racing Triumphs as 2023 Pro and Expert Class Champions in Thrilling PSBK Finale

By motoph admin on October 23, 2023

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The 2023 Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK) has proven to be an exhilarating rollercoaster ride for Access Plus Racing. The title battle reached its climax at the Clark International Speedway (CIS), where they clung to a slender 3-point lead as the race weekend approached. However, when the dust had settled, Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto secured his third consecutive Rider of the Year championship, while teammate Lawrence Macalinao was crowned Expert Class champion, marking a triumphant season for the team.

Following a mixed weekend at BRC, Access Plus Racing understood that they had work ahead of them in preparation for the final round of the year. They dedicated weeks to testing, pushing their Ducati Panigale V4 R and V4 S to their limits to maximize performance for the title showdown. The team even introduced a third entry, with Troy Alberto joining the action.

Their meticulous bike development translated into success on the track. The elder Alberto set a new lap record during Qualifying, clocking an impressive 1:48.431, earning him pole position and leaving his championship rival, Marvin Mangulabnan, trailing by over half a second. Troy Alberto started from P3 on the grid, with his impressive 1:49.799 lap time, a remarkable feat considering he had just arrived at the track on Thursday and hadn’t raced in PSBK since 2021. Macalinao wasn’t far behind, starting from P5 and emerging as the highest-placed rider in the Expert division. He set a personal best of 1:53.747, further bolstering his chances of clinching the class title.

However, TJ Alberto’s title hopes took a hit after a jumpstart in Race 1, guaranteeing a 10-second penalty. He pushed hard to salvage as many points as possible and minimize the damage. In his urgency, he made an uncharacteristic error, low-siding his #77 Ducati mid-race. Though he managed to rejoin, TJ Alberto finished a disappointing 5th, relinquishing his points lead. In contrast, his younger brother, Troy, continued to challenge Mangulabnan for the lead and crossed the finish line in 2nd, marking his first PSBK race in 2 years. Macalinao enjoyed a trouble-free run, securing 1st in the Expert Class and extending his points lead.

Race 2 was do or die for TJ Alberto, with Mangulabnan needing only to finish 3rd or higher to secure the championship. Starting from P5, TJ Alberto launched a full-scale assault and was on Mangulabnan’s tail after just a few laps. Clearly the faster of the two, TJ Alberto saw an opportunity and made his move on T16. Unfortunately, Mangulabnan turned in, causing contact and losing control of his bike. Fortunately, the elder Alberto managed to stay upright and continued. He eventually caught up to his brother, Troy, who went on to win the race, while TJ Alberto officially secured 2nd place. This was enough for TJ Alberto to claim the 2023 PSBK championship with a 1.5-point advantage, marking his third consecutive title.

Macalinao was also battling for the Expert Class title. He built a substantial lead over his closest rival and could already taste the championship. However, as rain began to fall on the 4.189 km circuit, he decided to ease off and cruised to another class win, securing the Expert Class championship title.

TJ Alberto, #77, expressed, “After dropping the ball in Race 1, the goal was to simply finish 1st in Race 2 and see what happens. By God’s blessing, we won the championship by 1.5 points. It was an incredible fairytale ending to the season, and I’m really happy to win my 3rd PSBK title in a row. Kudos to my teammate Lawrence for taking the Expert Class championship. I’m really proud of him, as I saw how much work he put into this and how much it meant to him. It’s also nice to be racing alongside my brother Troy after 2 years.”

Lawrence Macalinao, #26, stated, “I’m so happy to win the Expert Class championship! It hasn’t been an easy season, and I worked hard to come out on top. A big thanks to the entire Access Plus Racing and Ducati Philippines family for their efforts. Without them, I wouldn’t be a champion. I’m proud to have raced for Ducati again this season and to have TJ and Troy as teammates. Congratulations to TJ for bagging the championship for the 3rd time!”

Troy Alberto, #69, added, “The team was great all weekend, and I had a great time adjusting back to PSBK. I had a lot of fun and scored a win and a podium, so I can’t complain. Congrats to my teammates TJ and Lawrence for winning their respective championships. They and the team have been working hard all year, and it is well deserved.”

Toti Alberto, Team Principal, exclaimed, “An amazing result for Access Plus Racing, with both our riders winning their respective championships. After TJ’s lowside in the first race, we knew that it would be difficult to recover. All his title rival had to do was to finish 3rd, but he decided to chase down Troy and race with TJ. Even if TJ was already ahead making a pass, he still turned into TJ and ended up crashing to hand the championship back. Still, it was a good conclusion to the 2023 season. We fought all the way to the end and, by God’s grace, came out on top. Congratulations to TJ for his 3rd consecutive title and to Lawrence for winning the Expert Class championship. Also good to see Troy enjoy racing back on home soil.”

Access Plus Racing is proudly sponsored by Ducati Philippines, Angkas, Shell Advance Motorcycle Oils, ArmyNavy Burger + Burrito, Frontrow, Makati Diamond Residences, Katinko Oil and Ointment, Macbeth, Aella, LV8 Elevate, Extreme Components, STM, and Öhlins Racing.