Clark circuit blamed for top motorbike racer's death

source: Jojo Malig
abs-cbnnews.com


The dangerous track at the Clark Speedway Circuit may have killed motorcycle racing champion Maico Greg Buncio, his team said on Monday.

Team Suzuki Pilipinas, in a press statement, said Buncio, the 2011 Golden Wheel Awards' Driver of the Year, was in a qualifier race when his bike slipped on loose gravel on the shoulder of the Clark speedway.

Buncio was thrown off some 100 meters from his bike and his body was impaled on a protruding reed bar in an unfinished barrier on the speed way. The bar punctured his body and damaged his kidney and liver.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital before he was brought to the UST Hospital on Sunday, where doctors failed to save his life. He was 22 years old.

"Buncio has survived many previous crashes in the past, often unscathed, but the injury he suffered from the ill-prepared racetrack is unprecedented," Team Suzuki Pilipinas said.

"An investigation will be conducted to determine the extent of neglect on the maintenance of the racetrack resulting in its unsafe condition, and the accountability on the part of the owner of the racetrack," it added.

Buncio was the country’s official representative to the Asia Road Racing Championships.

Known as the nation's fastest man on 2 wheels, Buncio wrote his name in the record books by breaking the underbone and 400cc superbike-class lap records at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) with a time of 2 minutes and 7 seconds and 1 minute and 37 seconds, respectively.

His most recent record is 1:37 posted in July 2009 in the 600cc superbike class, which was also held at the BRC. He won the Superbike category 4 years in a row.

Team Suzuki Pilipinas said Buncio is also a seasoned rider in motocross, having won the 1996 FBO Motocross Series at TRAKSNIJAK Race Track in Tagaytay City (10-year old and below, 50cc class), and the 2002 FMF Memorial Day Motocross Races at Perris, California (14-year old and below, 85cc mini class).

His body will lie in state in Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe. Details of his burial will be announced later.