Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/668635
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2016 Sport MOTORSPORTS Rosberg: Hamilton is still the benchmark CHAMPIONSHIP leader Nico Rosberg says that Mercedes team- mate Lewis Hamilton remains the benchmark, despite the German opening up a 36-point advantage after three rounds of the 2016 sea- son. Rosberg stormed to victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, adding to his wins from Australia and Bahrain, meaning he has amassed 75 points, the maximum haul possible from the first three races. Hamilton remains Rosberg's closest challenger despite enduring a tricky time in China, having bat- tled to seventh after starting from last place due to qualifying woes. Rosberg insists that his team- mate, who has won the title on three occasions, remains the benchmark, regardless of his own imperious start to the campaign. "It's three races now and they've gone really well for me but it's the longest season in Formula 1 his- tory with 21, races so that's 18 to go," Rosberg said. "It would not make sense to make any premature conclusions if the start was good or bad, let's wait and see. "Of course I'm happy with the way it's gone and I'm feeling good and the car's there, but I don't want to say more than that. "Lewis is not many points be- hind, I don't know, something like 30 points, that's not much, that's a race and a bit and he's as focused and motivated as ever. "He will never give up and he's the benchmark, he's been the benchmark for the last years so the battle is going to be a big battle as always." Championship leader Nico Rosberg ASMK Autocross and Motocross racing on Sunday ON Sunday 24th April 2016 Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi is to continue the Na- tional Championships 2015/2016 sponsored by ASMK and Pasta Poiatti. The Autocross cars will be racing their Ninth event and Motocross is also organized on the day. The Program begins at noon (12:00 pm). Meanwhile a quick look at the Autocross and Motocross clas- sifications show that in Auto- cross Modified class Christian Mark Galea on a Fiat Ritmo still tops the chart and is expected to continue defending his lead with the 161 points won so far. Galea is followed by Malcolm Borg on an Opel Corsa with 112 points. In the Autocross Standard class we see Deane Farrugia on his Cit- roen AX to continue to lead this classification with 45 points fol- lowed by Traydon Bailey on his Ford Ka with 36 points. In the Motocross Class A Clay- ton Camilleri on his KTM is still leading the classification and is expected to continue lead- ing with 208 points while his brother Kyle is 2nd placed with 172 points also on a KTM motor- cycle. In Class B the Gozo Riders are still defending the first two positions in the ranking. Mario Cauchi on a Honda is leading with 207 points and is followed by Etienne Bigeni in 2nd place with 197 points on Honda mo- torcycle. Meanwhile the Board of Disci- plinary Action of the Association met this week and decided on two cases of misconduct by the com- petitors. In the Autocross section Johann Vella will be suspended from the next event on Sunday following misconduct in his last activity. From the Motocross sec- tion Clayton Camilleri and Paul Muscat are also suspended from the next activity on next Sunday following improper behaviour by their spectators on site. Meanwhile on Sunday 17th April the Association organ- ized another event of the Trials National Championship spon- sored by ASMK and Pasta Poiatti which was held at the quarry at Wied Ghomor in the limits of Naxxar. This was possible by kind permission of the quarry owners Ballut Blocks Ltd. This site is an excellent place for these Trials competitions. During the day's competition a number of Trials competitors took part in Six Sections laid by professional Trials bikers. The competitors were divided into two classes. In Class A we saw Riders of experience competing again yet Damon Bonello on a Gas Gas motorcycle dominated the day's event though he was suffering pain in a knee. Damon managed to gain only 3 penalty points in the last two sections from six in the competition and have completed the day in first place followed by Rowen Bonello on Beta who closed the day with 13 point of penalty. Gary Debono on a Sherco placed 3rd overall in Class A with 21 points of penalty. In Class B we saw great compe- tition between Bernard Sammut on Beta and Manuel Camilleri on a Gas Gas during the six sections. Sammut was seen taking advan- tage but Camilleri responded well to this pressure and soon closed the gap between the two. This continued almost to the end when Camilleri gained some penalty points in section No.4. This resulted in Sammut win- ning the Class B on the day by only 9 penalty Camilleri points to Camilleri's 11 penalty point and rating in 2nd place. Third place was won by Ian Scicluna on a Beta with 17 points of penalty. The Administration of the As- sociation will be announcing changes to the sporting calendar during next May and June stating that a number of activities will be taking place from late in the afternoon until late at night. The cars track will be lit with artifi- cial light and creating a comfort- able atmosphere. These meas- ures are being taken because of the high temperatures we will be having during that time. More information can be found on the website of the Association www.asmk.org.mt and in the Fa- cebook pages named A.S.M.K. Malta and Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi. One can also make contact by email on:- info@ asmk.org.mt PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIO MICALLEF Daniel Inguanez on Beta Autocross