Manila East (June 29, 2025)

It’s in the blood: Tamayo kids, Shana Tamayo and Joshua Tamayo, declared Philippine National Motocross Champions!

The Tamayos became the second-generation motocross champions when both won their classes in the 2024 Orca NAMSSA Philippine National Motocross Series Championship. The former in the Ladies class is using a 2024 Kawasaki KX250F, and the latter in the Junior MX85 class, using a 2023 GasGas MC85.

The family name “Tamayo” is a household name in Philippine motocross, thanks to the late Pastor Vern Tamayo and his wife, Luz Tamayo, who, with their three boys’ Virgil, Kel, and Sam, founded the Philippine Motocross Ministry during the early 90s. The ministry used training and racing motocross as a platform to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with youths at their private motocross track behind their house in Taytay, Rizal, and fans of the sport during the national motocross series more than 30 years ago.

15-year-old Shana and 13-year-old Joshua are a second-generation Tamayo motocross family thriving in the Philippine National Motocross Scene. The first-generation Tamayo brothers (Virgil, Kel, and Sam), children of Vern and Luz, were Philippine Motocross Champions during the late 90s under the Shell-Yamaha Motocross Racing Team, but little did they know their kids would be inheriting the passion they had as a family during a time many kids nowadays are into advanced virtual computer games, which are, of course, more appealing as they’re easy and safe compared to motocross, which is considered one of the most dangerous sports in the world.

Team MxMessiah’s 13-year-old Joshua Vern Tamayo and his cousin, 15-year-old Shana Vernice Tamayo, of Team Kojie San-Wheeltek Racing, are the reigning Philippine national motocross champions in their classes. Joshua is the reigning Philippine National Motocross Champion in the MX85, while Shana Tamayo is the reigning national motocross champion in the Ladies class.

Both Tamayos were awarded in the Philippine Racing Industry Awards (PRIA) at the biggest moto event of 2025 last March during the 17th InsideRACING Bike Fest held at the World Trade Center. The motocross champions were declared by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association, which is affiliated with FIM Asia, after winning the overall championship in their classes at the 2024 ORCA Philippine National Motocross Championship organized by TC22 Promotions and Teves Racing.

Their 76-year-old grandma, Luz Tamayo, witnessed the momentous event of the Tamayo family, signifying the legacy she and her late husband, Vern, contributed to the Philippine Motocross Industry, when Joshua and Shana received their trophies declaring them the number one rider in their classes. Motocross indeed is in the blood of the Tamayo family.