Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/350843
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY 2014 20 Sport MOTORSPORTS MOTORSPORTS FIM-Europe 2015 Congress to be held in Malta by ASMK A few days ago 'Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi' (ASMK) President Mr. Frans Deguara and Secretary General Mr. Johan Pace attended the 20th 'International Federation of Motorcycling' in Europe (FIM- Europe) Congress held in Poland in the city of Krakow. During this meeting the Congress had to elect a new President amongst other issues. Former FIM-Europe President Dott. Vincenzo Mazzi passed away a few months earlier. Dott. Mazzi was instrumental for ASMK as he opened new horizons and opportunities with regards to the Maltese bikers in competitions abroad. One minute silence was held as a tribute to Dott. Mazzi in the presence of his wife. On Friday afternoon the ASMK Malta Delegation had a meeting with Mr Wolfgang SRB. He was later elected as the new FIM-Europe President for the coming 4 years dur- ing the General Conference meeting held on Saturday afternoon. Mr. SRB who has already served as Vice- President to Mr. Mazzi is well aware of his duties and is determined to bring forward and gain results with regards to Motorcycling sport, tour- ism and road safety in Europe among other issues. During the Conference in Kra- kow, ASMK presented a short video about Malta and our heritage to the delegates present from the 43 Euro- pean Federations members. Then Mr Deguara addressed the delegates to introduce Malta as the next desti- nation to host the 2015 FIM-Europe General Conference. Both presen- tations were excellent and a unani- mous vote followed in favour. The next FIM-Europe Congress will be held in Malta between the 2nd and the 5th July 2015 at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. In this regard ASMK has launched on a challenging event which will host no less than 270 delegates ex- pected to attend the next General Conference in our country Malta. ASMK would like to thank 'Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport' (KMS) and Par- liamentary Secretariat for Sport for their support. A delegation from the FIM-Europe is expected to visit Malta with regards to the location logistics and more in view of the next conference in Malta. During the days of the conference the ASMK Delegation held a number of meetings mainly with the Federa- tions of Bulgaria, Romania and Is- rael. Another long meeting was held with MyLaps Official representatives with regards to Timing equipment as used by FIM and FIM-E during practice sessions and competitions. Hopefully, ASMK will be using such equipment early next year in Auto- cross, Motocross and Enduro racing too. Other meetings were held with the Italian Federation (FMI) officers with regards to the Maltese Motor- cycle riders participation in National Italian Championships. Presently ASMK will be hold- ing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) next Friday 25th July at the Hal-Kirkop Sport Complex. During this AGM the ASMK delegates will be voting to elect candidates in the posts of Vice-President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. The Committees for the Autocross, Motocross and Trials will also be elected for the coming year. Eligi- ble members will also be voting for a number of emends of the ASMK Statute. The motorsport events will commence soon. ASMK President Frans Deguara addressing the Congress (L-R) ASMK President Frans Deguara and Secretary General Johan Pace with the representatives of the Israeli Federation Ferrari backs Raikkonen amid struggles The Ferrari Formula 1 team says it has the "utmost confidence" in Kimi Raikkonen to turn his poor 2014 season around RAIKKONEN lies eight places and 78 points adrift of team-mate Fernando Alonso in the F1 drivers' championship after 10 races. The Finn has failed to finish ahead of his Span- ish team-mate at any race so far this year, and also trails Alonso 8-2 in the intra-team qualify- ing battle. Raikkonen qualified behind Alonso again for Sunday's German Grand Prix and finished a pointless 11th after picking up wing damage, while Alonso hailed his own race to fifth as his best of the season so far. Raikkonen is currently contracted to Ferrari for next season, and team principal Marco Mat- tiacci said the 2007 world champion is still the right driver for the Scuderia despite his paucity of results in this current campaign. "Kimi is the driver that we need - we need to make more points, but he's the driver that we need," Mattiacci said. "I think he knows what he can do better. "He's a professional driver, he won a world championship with Ferrari; he's motivated, he knows his area of improvement. "He sees Fernando ahead, he sees that it is tough and it's a tough moment, but we are all to- gether in this. "He has the utmost confidence and support from Ferrari." Kimi Raikkonen