Alberto Brothers Clinch PSBK 1‑2 Victory

Access Plus Racing closed out the 2025 Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK) with a dramatic and hard-fought weekend at the Clark International Speedway (CIS), capped by a successful final push that secured Troy Alberto 2nd overall in the championship.

Saturday’s Qualifying session set a promising tone for the team, with newly crowned 5-time champion Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto showcasing the potential of the Ducati Panigale V4 7G as he stormed to pole with a 1:48.592 lap. His younger brother Troy kept the momentum going with P3, lining up just behind title rival Marvin Mangulabnan and putting both Ducatis firmly on the front row.

Race 1, held unusually on Saturday afternoon, took an unexpected turn when a sudden downpour drenched the circuit just minutes before lights out. The team scrambled to switch both Ducatis to wet settings and tires, while Mangulabnan had opted for scrubbed wets—giving him superior grip at the start and allowing him to rocket into an early lead.

TJ and Troy initially struggled for pace on brand-new rain tires that needed several laps to reach optimal performance. Determined to chase him down, TJ pushed hard but slid out on Lap 4 in the tricky conditions. Troy, meanwhile, kept his composure and began reeling in Mangulabnan once his tires reached their operating window, but the gap was too large to close. He crossed the line in P2—only to be promoted to the win after Mangulabnan was disqualified post-race.

With dry weather returning for the final race of the year, Race 2 delivered an intense three-way battle on Sunday. Troy launched perfectly from pole, while TJ immediately climbed to P2 on the run to Turn 1. The trio swapped positions in the early laps until TJ broke clear and took command of the race.

The focus then shifted to the fight for 2nd. Troy was holding strong, but a mechanical issue caused his pace to fade, allowing Mangulabnan to slip past. With a clear road ahead, TJ cruised to his 12th win of the season—capping off his most dominant PSBK campaign to date, with Troy holding on for 3rd at the flag.

TJ Alberto, #77: “We had some bad luck on Saturday, but I’m happy we were able to bounce back with a win in the last race of the year. It was also special to finally race with the #1 plate. What a year it has been. Winning 12 out of 14 races makes this my best season ever, and with Access Plus Racing taking 13 out of 14 victories, it really shows the incredible work the whole team has done.”

Troy Alberto, #69: “Not the ending I expected, but I’m happy to wrap up the season 2nd in the championship. Coming into the year, my goals were simple: finish every race and have the speed to fight for wins. I feel like I achieved both, despite the challenges we faced along the way. Now I’m looking forward to building on this momentum for 2026.”

Lawrence Macalinao: “It was an exceptional weekend for me, and I’m really happy with how the bike was set up. Even though it was my first time riding the Panigale V2, the handling felt incredibly good. As the race went on, I could tell we had the pace to win. The SS600 class is a great platform for riders stepping into superbikes, and I’m glad we were able to make such a strong debut.”

Toti Alberto, Team Principal: “I’m happy that Troy secured 2nd in the championship, but it’s hard not to think about what could have been. He faced so many unexpected issues beyond our control, and those setbacks kept him from showing everything he’s capable of. TJ, meanwhile, delivered his strongest season yet — and truly, this was our best year in PSBK as a team. On track, the battles were fair and hard-fought, but I wish the same sportsmanship extended off the track as well. We rise above it, but we also hope the sport moves in a better direction.”