The Army Navy Club 200 conquered the 1,200-kilometer 2022 BOSS (BMW Owners Society of Safe Riders) Ironman Motorcycle Challenge XVI with flying colors and plenty of time to spare.
Participants of the taxing ride from the Laus Group Event Center in San Fernando City in Pampanga on Monday to Vigan, Sanchez Mira, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Dipaculao, Aurora and back the following day had to finish the challenge between 16 to 24 hours.
The Army Navy Club 200 answered the starting gun at 9:15 p.m. and arrived at the starting point at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, accomplishing the challenge in just 16 hours.
Members of the elite motorcycle club, namely Hubert Soriano, Ren Sy, RG Romero, Julius Avenido, Ali Khatibi, Bong Fantillanan, Rene Tayag, Ali Khayam, Noel Policarpio and Roberto Cojuangco arrived in intervals of 5 to 10 seconds ahead of everybody else.
“The challenges are physically exhausting because we had to ride overnight with no sleep. Checkpoints were in place to check individual time,” said Romero, reigning champion of the 2021 Philippine Super Bikes Championship. “You need to prepare yourself riding in the dark, practice night riding.”
Romero emphasized that even though they finished ahead of the 1,500-plus rider field, they kept their motto of safe riding by heart.
“There are a lot of riders/groups in other challenges that are fast, but not safe and makes mistakes easily. But we at the Army Navy Club 200 always preach safety first. This proves that the Army Navy Club 200 team is composed of riders who practice safe riding with zero accident during the event.”
“Besides, some of our Club 200 riders have already taken the Ironman Motorcycles Challenge about two to three times already,” he added.
The Club 200 was formed in 1994 by six founding members, who were into sports bikes. The group has grown into 35 active members, chosen by invitation only. But an invite doesn’t assure one of outright membership as a prospective member has to ride every Sunday with the group, plus two long rides for six months before being accredited as a safe rider of Club 200.
Club 200 members have undergone schooling from different safety riding schools abroad and most are Philippine superbike champions.
“We have also done community services through medical and dental free clinic and tree planting activities. As a group that practices safety on the streets, we have also been lecturing on safe riding techniques,” Romero revealed. “Club 200 is also planning on holding a safe endurance race on racetracks, where there are no dogs and tricycles crossing.”