Camille Naredo

Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan.

Paige Javier

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760330632622viber_image_2025-10-12_23-55-27-462.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News"/>Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA --Filipino racer Alfonsi Daquigan is still on cloud nine, a week after winning historic back-to-back races at the 2025 Asia Talent Cup in Mandalika, Indonesia. It was a triple celebration for the 16-year-old on October  4, as he recorded his first career victory, became the first rider from the Philippines to win in the Asia Talent Cup, and celebrated his birthday two days before. The next day, Daquigan clinched another victory in Race 2, consolidating his P3 rank overall in the standings ahead of the final round. &quot;The feeling is so surreal and it&#x27;s very, I&#x27;m very happy to finally get these two wins. My first double podium. I&#x27;m really happy and so happy that finally all my hard work has paid off. Hopefully in the next race I can continue this form,&quot; Daquigan said in an interview with ABS-CBN News on Sunday.In Race 1, the 16-year-old was the early leader, but he had to serve double lap penalties. Despite this, Daquigan remained focused to be able to mount a comeback. &quot;My plan was to try to lead and maybe stretch out the group a bit. The plan was what I did. I was really happy because from the start of the race I managed to make a small gap so it helped a lot in the long lap. I think I didn&#x27;t lose too much time,&quot; he shared. &quot;I stayed at the back for more than half of the race. It was difficult, so many riders fighting, all of them want to win. So yeah I just stayed focused, try to keep calm and not to make any mistakes. Finally I got to do it and I got myself into a good position for the final few laps,&quot; Daquigan added. In the final corner, a collision between Japanese riders and title contenders Ryota Ogiwara and Seiryu Ikegami opened the door for Daquigan to zoom to victory. &quot;I wasn&#x27;t thinking about the crash. It was unbelievable. I was seeing the checkered flag and there was no one ahead. The crashes happened so fast. I just knew I won and that was it,&quot; he said. &quot;They were trying to take each other out even before it [collision] even happened. I had a feeling it was going to happen. When I saw him go for that move in the last corner, I knew it wasn&#x27;t going to work. I was there and I took advantage,&quot; the 16-year-old shared. Daquigan revealed that he was more calm and confident heading into Race 1 than Race 2. &quot;In the second race, before the race was very difficult. I couldn&#x27;t sleep before Race 1. I was so happy and I was thinking about the race and the win. Going into Race 2, I wasn&#x27;t in the mood. I was super sleepy and I didn&#x27;t feel prepared,&quot; he said. &quot;I said to myself, I have to do it. I have to go. When the lights went out, I felt good again. I felt confident again. I knew what I did in the first race, I made the gap. My plan for Race 2 was to do the same, Daquigan shared. The 16-year-old described Race 2 as a &quot;calmer race&quot; since most of his game plan translated on the track, despite making a mistake with three laps to go. &quot;I&#x27;m still happy because I was leading almost the whole race. From when I took the lead, I was really comfortable in the lead and I was controlling the pace,&quot; Daquigan said. &quot;Into turn 10, my bike hit false neutral and I fell back to P3 with three laps to go. I was frustrated because I saw that I was making a small gap...  but then I made this mistake... On that very next lap I managed to take the lead again and I was just in front until the checkered flag,&quot; he added.<div> </div><div>CLEAN SLATE FOR INDONESIA</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-n5UgR8Z6R4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Daquigan is not dwelling on his results coming into the sixth round of the Asia Talent Cup, however. &quot;For Malaysia, it&#x27;s a new weekend. I already forget about what happened last week. Every day is a new day. So I just try to go into each day and try to give my best every day,&quot; he said. With nearly two weeks until the final round of the season, Daquigan said he&#x27;s focused on spending quality time with his loved ones before he returns to the circuit. &quot;I&#x27;m still here at home. I&#x27;m still trying to enjoy it with my family. And I&#x27;m still trying to prepare myself, my body, and not think about too much yet.  It&#x27;s still a few weeks out, but then maybe a few days in, I&#x27;d start to think about what I have to do,&quot; he said. &quot;Of course I have the confidence after the two races in Indonesia. But again it&#x27;s a new weekend. It&#x27;s a new race and you never know what can happen, so you have to approach every race weekend as a new challenge,&quot; he explained.Daquigan is currently ranked third in the overall rider standings after doubling up in Indonesia. But even if he wins in the final races, it will not be enough to reach the top. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760330660621viber_image_2025-10-12_23-56-18-320.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan. Photo courtesy of Daquigan"/>Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan. Photo courtesy of Daquigan</div>&quot;So mathematically, it&#x27;s not possible. The only possible thing is now is to keep third place in the championship and win both races in Malaysia or get the best results possible, which is first. But if I give my 100% and it&#x27;s not first, I will be happy,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#x27;m not thinking about the championship. It&#x27;s just that I give my best. After the race, I know that I gave my 100% and whatever result comes it&#x27;s what happened and I tried my best,&quot; the 16-year-old added. Daquigan&#x27;s ultimate goal is to make it to the MotoGP, the world&#x27;s most premier motorcycle road racing championship, and eventually become champion. &quot;MotoGP is the main goal. We’ll take it step by step. Right now, it&#x27;s whatever comes next. Step by step. You can&#x27;t go 10 steps ahead. Whatever&#x27;s next is my goal,&quot; he said. Round 6 of the Asia Talent Cup will take place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from October 25 to 26.

Filipino racer Alfonsi Daquigan is still on cloud nine, a week after winning historic back-to-back races at the 2025 Asia Talent Cup in Mandalika, Indonesia.

Filipino racer Alfonsi Daquigan is still on cloud nine, a week after winning historic back-to-back races at the 2025 Asia Talent Cup in Mandalika, Indonesia.

Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan still on cloud nine after back-to-back wins in Asia Talent Cup

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Pinoy racer Alfonsi Daquigan still on cloud nine after back-to-back wins in Asia Talent Cup

Paige Javier

Published October 13, 2025 03:13 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

Moto Racing

Alfonsi Daquigan

Asia Talent Cup

Indonesia

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.