Access Plus Racing overcame unpredictable weather to secure dominant 1–2 finishes in both the Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK) and Supersport 600 (SS600) at Clark International Speedway (CIS). Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto and younger brother Troy Alberto combined to win all four races despite changing conditions throughout Sunday.
Changing weather forced Access Plus Racing into last-minute tire changes before both PSBK races. The decisions meant TJ and Troy started from the back of the grid twice, but ultimately proved decisive.
TJ Alberto secured pole position with a 1:48.692 lap aboard the team’s 7th-generation Ducati Panigale V4. Troy Alberto completed another Access Plus Racing front-row sweep in P2, while Japanese guest rider Akito Haga qualified P3 aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1.
Rain began falling just minutes before the start of Race 1, prompting the team to switch both Panigale V4s onto wet tires. However, conditions quickly improved, prompting Access Plus Racing to make the call to return both bikes to the pits for slick tires, sacrificing their front-row starting positions.
Starting from the back, TJ and Troy wasted little time slicing through the pack. As they reached Turn 1, TJ had already retaken the lead with Troy close behind. The brothers gradually pulled away from the rest of the field, eventually crossing the finish line over seven seconds ahead of the chasing pack. Haga completed the podium in 3rd.
Race 2 brought another weather curveball. Rain arrived shortly before the start, forcing another last-minute tire change. Starting from the back once again, Troy got the holeshot to lead the field before Turn 1, with TJ slotting into 2nd. The pair quickly established themselves at the front before pulling comfortably clear, with TJ taking the flag in 1st with Troy completing another 1–2 finish. The race also saw Ducati riders occupy the top seven finishing positions.
The team’s success continued in the SS600 category, where the Alberto brothers faced another Japanese challenger in Ren Okabe of Nitro Ryota Racing aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6.
Troy claimed pole position ahead of TJ, with Okabe qualifying P3 after steadily improving throughout the weekend.
In the opening race, Troy maintained the lead while Okabe moved into P2 at the start. TJ remained close behind before passing the Japanese rider on lap 5 and pulling away to secure another Access Plus Racing 1–2 finish.
Race 2 proved even more competitive as Okabe led the field into the opening corners before both Alberto brothers found a way past on lap 3. Troy once again took the victory ahead of TJ, while Okabe completed the podium to cap off an intense battle between the Filipino and Japanese riders.
Access Plus Racing now turns its attention to Round 4, which returns to the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) on September 5/6.
TJ Alberto, #77: “It was a really crazy race weekend. We only lined up on the grid once out of four races because we kept having to make last-minute tire changes, so I really have to commend the team for preparing the bikes so quickly. It was also great to race against Akito Haga and Ren Okabe this weekend—they really pushed us, and it’s always exciting to have that level of competition on the grid.”
Troy Alberto, #69: “I’m really happy with how the weekend went. We found a good step forward with the Supersport bike, which gave me the confidence to take on a very strong competitor like Ren Okabe. The Superbike races were especially tricky because of the changing weather, so huge credit goes to our pit crew for pulling off the last-minute tire changes and keeping us in the fight throughout the weekend.”
Toti Alberto, Team Principal: “I think our races were won because of the excellent work of our Ducati mechanics and crew. The new Panigale V4 features quick-release wheels similar to those used in World Endurance and World Superbike racing, allowing us to make last-minute tire and suspension changes. That gave our riders the confidence to focus on riding the bikes to their full potential.”
Access Plus Racing is sponsored by Ducati Philippines, Shell Advance, Brembo, Öhlins Racing, Sprint Filter, Macbeth, DID Chains, Aella, Motoworld, Capit Performance, LV8 – Elevate, Extreme Components, Rudy Project, and Safety Jogger.
