Last year, Team Philippines took on Australia. This year, the challenge shifts to Spain.

CFMOTO Philippines has wrapped up the local qualifiers for the MT Challenge, naming the three riders who will represent the country at the global finals.

After leading the standings from the opening day, Mico Marges of Cavite locked in the top spot. Joining him are motocross rider Ralph Ramento and Michael Trajano, who battled their way up from third and eighth place, respectively, to earn their tickets to Spain.

After the qualifiers, we caught up with Pao Toral of Enduro Factory, who will serve as Team Captain for the Philippine squad.

For Toral, the celebration is short-lived because the real work begins now. The team plans to meet as soon as possible to map out its preparations for Spain, where the Filipino riders will compete aboard the larger and heavier CFMOTO 1000MT.

And it’s not just the motorcycle they’ll have to adapt to. Toral expects many of the riders from other countries to have a physical advantage as well, making preparation even more critical before Team Philippines takes on the world’s best adventure riders.

One of Toral’s immediate priorities is building team chemistry. He told MotoPinas.com that he’s confident that part will come naturally because all three riders already have years of racing experience.

Despite his young age, Marges is already a seasoned hard enduro rider, having honed his skills on the rugged trails of Magallanes, Cavite, literally right in his own backyard. Ramento is a champion motocross racer who also spends plenty of time riding enduro, while Trajano brings experience from both road racing and off-road competition.

With less than two months before the global finals, time is running short, but Toral believes the team will be ready, especially with backing from CFMOTO Philippines, which will provide each rider with a brand-new CFMOTO 1000MT for training before flying them to an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain for the MT Challenge global finals.