Philippine Superbike Champion in Fatal Accident

Four-time Philippines national superbike champion Maico Greg Buncio has succumbed to injuries suffered in a high speed crash May 14 in a qualifying session at the Clark Speedway Racing Circuit.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the 22-year-old Suzuki factory racer high-sided after his GSX-R600 ran over some debris on the track. Maico reportedly rolled into an unfinished barrier and was pierced by a protruding steel bar.

Buncio was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital in Manila where he died May 15 due to internal bleeding.

A talented young racer, Buncio won the Philippine national championship as a rookie in 2007 and retained the title the next three seasons. Buncio was selected to be the Philippines’ first representative in the ASEAN Road Racing Championship in April at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a Suzuki representative said Buncio’s family is considering filing suit against the operators of Clark International Speedway. Local authorities are also investigating the accident. The owner of the Clark International Speedway has suspended all motorcycle racing events at the track as well as three other circuits for a safety evaluation.

[Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer]

By Dennis Chung