Local hero Kenneth San Andres has won the first race of the first Evelio Javier International Motocross Championship at Valderrama in The Philippines, beating Mongolian Khaliunbold Erdenebileg after suffering a crash early in the race.

San Andres drew the inside line at the starter’s block and dueled with the Mongolian for the lead all the way to the first climb only to lose his balance. As he picked himself up to rejoin the race, San Andres found himself overtaken by six riders and worked his way to threaten front-running Erdenebileg.

The Mongolian, jockeying for position with San Andres, put more pressure on his front wheel brake and skidded near the finish, allowing the Filipino to snatch the victory.

San Andres, 20, picked up 25 points while Erdenebileg received 22 points going into the second race. The Filipino rider expects the Mongolian to come out with more vigor.

Erdenebileg, who topped the opener of the circuit in Puerto Princesa last February, raced with a heavily bandaged left thigh but it turned out later he was more affected by a hurting knee that he injured in practice in Thailand before he planed in earlier this week.

“It hurts,” said the Mongolian, a traffic cop whose stint in the Asian circuit is being supported by the National Motor Sports and Safety Association.