Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/620988
21 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2015 MOTORSPORTS Sport MOTORSPORTS ASMK reach new heights in 2015 ASMK is now 30 years young and is still one of the Islands major Motor- sport active organisations for Auto- cross cars and Off-Road motorcycle sport of various disciplines. Auto- cross and Motocross races are held at the ASMK Motorsport Complex at Ta Qali. Presently ASMK is or- ganizing the Trials competitions and the Enduro Motorcycle Cham- pionships in different locations out- side the ASMK Premises around the Island including events for mo- torcycles also in Gozo. Through the years the ASMK Management managed to make the best use of the area at Ta Qali and though this place is now limited in footprint area ASMK Officers have managed to construct and maintain tracks for Autocross, Motocross, Trials, Moto Enduro races and a car Demolition oval too. The Specta- tors areas are quite safe as they are elevated from the tracks surface level, are constructed at a reasona- ble distance from the tracks and are protected by a protective steel net of reasonable height. One of the main seating areas also protects the spec- tators from the natural elements by means of a steel tent. Other facilities are available too. The Year 2015 has registered an- other golden historical page in the books of ASMK. Following 3 years of great work and planning ASMK has been unanimously granted to organise the 2015 FIM-Europe General Assembly in Malta. Head- ed by FIM-E President Dr Wolfgang SRB, his FIM-E Officials and FIM President Dr Vito Ippolito all gath- ered in Malta to discuss, decide and approve motions and an event calendar for 2016 and the future of the FIM-E European Federation for motorcycling. This congress was at- tended by 280 delegates from the 47 countries affiliated to FIM-E most of them were accompanied by either delegates or relatives... Day long Workshops were held at Grand Hotel Excelsior from the 1st to the 4th of July 2015. One of the main meetings which drew the presence of a very large audience was the Safety Conference headed by four intelligent speakers includ- ing a representative of Transport Malta (TM). This meeting present- ed many interesting topics, mainly for the environment, for the safety of bikers and pedestrians, riders in racing, leisure, tourism and the in- clusion of Electronics in rider and motorcycle new safety features. The General Assembly was well attended and new decisions were taken accordingly. This was followed by a Grand Gala Dinner held at Pal- azzo Verdala by kind permission of her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca President of Malta. Surely the event has been a great success not only for ASMK exposure but also to the Maltese economy. Following this great event the ASMK officials started preparing for the coming Championships scheduled at Ta Qali and other locations. An Autocross Warm-up event took place at Sannat in Gozo. For the 2nd consecutive year this event was spread over a weekend in Sep- tember and drew many Maltese and Gozitan competitors together with a large crowd of spectators from both Islands. All proceeds were donated to ARKA Foundation in Gozo. The Ministry for Gozo, the site owners and other sponsors made this event possible and fruitful for this year too. In 2014-15 the ASMK Pasta-Poiatti National Autocross Championship consisted of twelve (12) race dates held between October and the fol- lowing May. The degree of driving on soft terrain demands high vary- ing driver's skills and different car set-ups mainly due to the continu- ously changing track surfaces from wet to dry and the race directions during the championship races. Yet, Autocross driving demonstrates high level skill and exciting driving tactics. Competition and pressure for the lead are high in this regard yet very rewarding for the winning competitor and his team. Autocross is the only sport held on the Island where six cars race together on the Kilo-meter long cir- cuit for 5 Laps during the Qualify- ing Heats and for 9 Laps in the Final Races of Classes A and B. The Finals for the Standard Class are run on a 7 Laps race. All Autocross results gain valuable points for the National Autocross Champion and Runner- Up. The Current 2014-15 winner is Christian Mark Galea driving a 1400cc modified Fiat Ritmo. Run- ner-Up Philip Joe Vella competes on a Vauxhall Nova 1400cc. Both Galea and Vella won the Autocross Class A Championship 2014-15 too. The Autocross Class B is also competitive in every way. The 2014- 15 Championship was won by God- win Martin on an ex-Champion- ship winning car – an Opel Corsa B. Runner-up in this Class B is Jonath- an Camilleri also on an Opel Corsa B. The Gozo Autocross Class was won by Domenic Zammit on his Alfa Sud and Runner-Up is Joseph Agius on a Ford Fiesta. During this said season ASMK in- troduced a 'low-cost' version of the Modified Autocross Cars where the bodywork is to remain as original as possible yet the rules do not allow any modifications to the engines and transmissions among other is- sues. This class is growing fast and is becoming very popular among new competitors and teenage driv- ers. Deane Farrugia driving a Cit- roen GT won the 2014-16 Champi- onship while his Runner-up is Salvu Micallef on a VW Polo. Surely the competition has become very high in this class. The motocross Championship was based on 8 championship events throughout the season. The most experienced Class A riders ride 250cc bikes in Class A while Class B beginners often start with lighter yet powerful 125cc bikes. Motocross riders are crossing over to Sicily where they compete in the FMI Motocross Regional Champi- onship. Competition is high there yet but the results are very promis- ing. This participation is made pos- sible through negotiations between ASMK and FMI. Virtu Ferries is supporting the riders in their travel- ling to Sicily. The Class A Motocross Champi- onship winner is Clayton Camilleri on a 250cc KTM Bike. Runner-up is Edward Ciantar on a Kawasaki. Ludvic Muscat on a KTM won the Class B Championship while his Runner-up is Adam Sultana on a Kawasaki from Gozo. The 'Open Class winners were Camilleri and Ciantar. It is important to note that early in November 4 riders were invited to compete as a Team in France in the AMM Race for the Mediterranean Basin Motocross. They did very well when compared with the close Lap Time results of our riders with professional riders lap times from the other 12 countries. The team is already preparing for the 2016 AMM Race of the Mediterranean. Presently the motocross tracks at Ta Qali are maintained to high stand- ards to help the riders improve their talents and skills. This coming year 5 Motocross riders will be compet- ing in the FMI-Sicily National and Regional Championships. The Trials are doing well with the support of ace riders and are also running a nursery for beginners. Tuition and some Trials competi- tions are held at the ASMK tracks in Ta Qali. Most competitions have been held in other locations follow- ing Mepa and other permits. Trials, being a non-speed event but dem- onstrates riders skills to overcome various difficulties and challenging obstacles on route is mainly a safer sport. Damon Bonello on a Gas Gas won the Class A followed by Robert Caruana also on a Gas Gas. The Class B Trials Championship was won by Joseph Scicluna and his Runner-Up is Manuel Camilleri. Both ride Gas Gas machines. Enduro racing demonstrates rider's skills riding over rough ter- rain. Enduro is organised by ASMK on locations outside Ta Qali and also in Gozo. Rider's participation is high and very promising. During the last 12 months some riders have competed in the FMI Sicily Enduro championships as guests. The 2014- 15 Enduro Championship was won by James Zahra on a Yamaha and Matthew Gauci on a KTM is the Runner-Up. The 2015-16 Champi- onship is already running and Gauci is leading the results so far. Other important events organ- ized by ASMK throughout the year are the Car Demolition Derby, a Day's work at id-Dar tal-Providenza and social events for the members and their families. The Car Demoli- tion is a great Crowd-Puller to raise funds for Charity. It has been held for 22 consecutive years but it's a pity that the authorities are find- ing it difficult to let us make use of scrapped and VRT Failures to be used for the Demolition Derby and return them back to the scrap-yard. Hope this issue is resolved for the good of the sport and the good of charity institutions too. In December ASMK organised an EGM mainly following the resigna- tion of the Treasurer and two other section member drivers. ASMK would like to thank Mr Edgar Xuer- eb following his 20 years service as ASMK Treasurer and has elected him as Hon. Member together with Mr. Francis J. Azzopardi and Mr. Emm. Pisani for the services ren- dered throughout many years. ASMK during this coming year will be represented by Motocross Competitors in the FMI Regional Championship in Italy and by Moto Drag Racers in the European Cham- pionships in Europe. Obviously, ASMK will continue running the three National Auto- cross Championships, the two Championships for the Motocross Classes, that for the Trials and that for the Enduro riders too. There are also new plans to welcome youths in motorsport and more. Info is avail- able at www.asmk.org.mt Edward Ciantar (L) and Paul Muscat FIM, FIM EUROPE, ASMK OFFICIALS during the FIM Europe Congress Malta 2015 Godwin Martin in the lead driving his Opel Corsa followed by Jason Martin in his VW Polo