Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/656590
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2016 Sport MOTORSPORTS Two dominate ASMK Autocross ON Sunday 20th March 2016 'Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi' organized the eighth programme of the ASMK Pasta Poiatti National Championship for 2015/2016. During the day 38 competitors took part in Au- tocross Cars and the Motocross Motorcycles. Meanwhile a look at the day in the Autocross section we saw Gordon Johnson on an Opel Cor- sa dominate the day's Heats as he was the only driver to win all of them. For this A Class Final the other qualifiers were:- Christian Mark Galea on a Fiat Ritmo, Karl Micallef on a Ford Fiesta, the Opel Nova of Josef Abela, An- drew Pisani on a Vauxhall Nova and Josef Grech on a Ford Fiesta. From the Start of this final we saw Johnson and Abela race abreast right to the first corner but Johnson took the helm of the race followed close by Abela and Galea. The order continued with Grech taking fourth place followed by Pisani and Micallef. The attention turned on Galea who was making pressure on Abela who was close following leader Johnson waiting for the right occasion to advance a place or two. But Johnson just after the finish of the first lap developed a mechanical fault in a front wheel which forced him to slow down and later retire. Meanwhile it was easy for Galea to take the helm of this race followed by Grech and Pisani. The ac- tion continued between leaders Galea and Grech where just be- fore the finish of this final Galea opened the way to Grech thus we saw cars changing places for the third time during this final. The Race finished with Grech win- ning the race followed by Galea and Pisani. Micallef finished in fourth place. In the final Class B the Start Line was composed of Jean Paul Grech on a Peugeot 106, Mal- com Borg and Joseph Micallef both on an Opel Corsa each, the Vauxhall Nova on Keith Borg, the Alfa Sud of Henry and Delia Duncan on a Ford Fiesta. With a start of six cars abreast Grech Jean Paul was seen to make a spectacular lead and taking the lead of the group. He was fol- lowed by Micallef and Malcolm Borg. The race continued where in fourth place there was Keith Borg followed by Henry Borg and Delia. After 3 laps leading the race JP Grech was forced to retire through a mechanical fault. As the race progressed the finalists defended their place to the Finish Line. Micallef crossed the Finish Line first followed by cousins Malcolm and Keith Borg. Fourth place was won by Henry Borg followed by Delia in fifth place. The Autocross Standard Class is becoming stronger each time and race after race. During the day we saw a large number of competitors fighting for the five places of the day's Final. The qualifiers were Ian Fenech on a Citroen AX, Steve Micallef on a Renault 5 Campus, Joseph Mar- tin on a Peugeot 206, the Citroen AX of Melvin Buttigieg and Karl Scicluna on a Peugeot 206. From the Green Lights of this final Buttigieg and Fenech were seen to take the lead ahead of the rest. Soon later Buttigieg managed to take the helm of the race fol- lowed by Martin and by Fenech and Micallef and Scicluna fol- lowing the leaders. After 4 Laps of the final we had no change until just before the end of the race we sadly saw Fenech and Buttigieg to retire due to techni- cal faults each. This simplified the lead for Martin and Scicluna who advanced in their new posi- tions. The final ended with Mar- tin winning the race ahead of Scicluna and Micallef. In the Motocross we witnessed again the participation of Gozo riders. Eight riders took part in this MX race in both categories of Classes A and B. Sadly in Class A we had a dispute between two competitors and the Organizing Committee decided not to issue this class race result until the Board of Discipline meets to de- cide and settle the case. Yet in Class B the Gozo rid- ers battled together for the lead during the Practice Sessions and also during the qualif ying Heats. Etienne Bigeni dominated his Class on the day by winning over the two heats on his Kawasaki. Mario Cauchi on his Honda fol- lowed closed through the day in second place while third place was won by Jorn Stellini on a Yamaha motorcycle. In the Open Class of the Mo- tocross Paul Muscat on a KTM motorcycle won this race fol- lowed by Etienne Bigeni on a Ka- wasaki and David Dimech on a Kawasaki too. Mario Cauchi fin- ished in fourth place on a Honda motorcycle. Meanwhile the Association would like to wish all ASMK members, spectators and friends, the best wishes for a Happy Easter to all. ASMK also states that the race events will return back with more events on Sunday 3 April 2016 with more Trials competitions. More infor- mation can be found in the web- site of the Association at:- www. asmk.org.mt or on the Facebook pages named A.S.M.K. Malta or Association Sport Motorcycles and Cars. One can also make contact by email on:- info@ asmk.org.mt PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIO MICALLEF Motocross result upheld