Dipolog Motocross Fever

The Thrill of Being Up There!
By  Ligaya B. Tomong

We all hear the saying in Tagalog “Masarap ang Bawal” which means things forbidden is sometimes the most of the things we crave for. Who could ever blame those people suffering from hypertension that keep on eating Lechon, “Adobo”, Barbeque, “Humba” and other fatty foods especially during fiestas, birthdays, weddings, or even in ordinary days. How about those diabetic patients who are salivating every time they hear the words such as ice cream, chocolates, colas, cakes and candies? Those teenagers who are often scolded by their parents because of having a relationship with the opposite sex in their young age?

At first, I really don’t get it! But things are clearer now after my interview with a professional motorcycle rider, who is also a friend of mine, who himself cannot refuse the temptation of the kind of sport that he is involved. For us Dipolognons, when we speak of the word Motocross, there is one name that appears into our mind, and that is Carlo Rodriguez, the “National Rider” and the pride of the City of Dipolog.

Interviewing him is such an honor and privilege on my part knowing that he is a busy man and always out of town for a race. Carlo was engaged in motocross at a very young age, which is 16. For him it is even too late and if only he could turn back time, he wished that he would have started a little bit younger.

From that age up to now that he is married, the passion for the sport of motocross has always stayed in his heart and eventually became more active in supporting the said sport.

He confessed that he really loves motocross and never in his life that he regretted for being hooked with it. Members of his family all disagreed with the sport he has enjoyed so much and stopped him from doing so because of the risk and danger that they all have to go through every time Carlo drives out into the racetrack.

No matter how disappointing that situation was, his strong will and passion for motocross is intact and even loves it more and more each day.

His wife Memen, at first, also discouraged him to end his desire of motocross but he only stopped for a few years but still his passion preceded beyond their expectations. He was thankful that as time passes by, his wife came to accept the said sport and has been very supportive with him this time and sometimes accompanies him in some of his out of town races.

Discouraging and hurting words are all gone and from that moment on Carlo has given a way of pursuing his dreams and was able to prove that “motocross” is really for him after he was made known as the National Rider and Pride of the Orchid City of Dipolog.

For him, being recognized as one of the national riders in the country is such an achievement knowing that it is every rider dreams to be. He said that the feeling is extraordinary.  “You will have a high confidence level for yourself compared to the local riders”, he added.

He has more than 100 trophies in his house and is just a few of the hundred evidences of his exemplary performance in every competition that he had joined. I noticed that Carlos’s house is like a “hall of fame”, though it is simple yet beautifully decorated with trophies, plaques and souvenirs from the different competitions that he had joined which made the whole place so marvelous to gaze.

Among the trophies that he had, the most special and memorable for Carlo is the one he received in November 30, 1997 during the Camel Motocross where he was proclaimed as the National Champion in the Beginners Production category sponsored and organized by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (NAMSSA).

Carlo is an active member of Dipolog Cycles Unlimited, an organization whose members are all motocross riders. He said that they are about 20 members in the group and only 16 of them have their own motorcycle while others just borrow from the group.