Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/729537
21 Sport MOTORSPORTS maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2016 €1,020 donated to Arka Foundation by ASMK in Gozo races THE Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi (ASMK) successfully held the third activity with autocross cars in Xewkija at the weekend of 9-11 September, with the aid of the Minister for Gozo, together with earlier events held during the year by ASMK, including the Enduro for motorcycles last April. The autocross event was held in aid of Arka Foundation in Gozo. Work on the temporary track for cars lasted one week. It was car- ried out by government workers and the ASMK officers. This was made possible with the use of all resources, machinery belonging to the ASMK and other machinery provided by benefactors and the Ministry for Gozo. The association thanked the 'Gozo Horse Racing Association' for accepting the ASMK request to use part of the horse track and change it into a temporary auto- cross track for cars. This track was constructed for a few days only. Thanks also were given for the co- operation of the Gozo Police Corps, the Gozo Works Department, the Gozo Sports Board, Road Con- struction Ltd, the Water Services Corporation (WSC) and the Apap family from Victoria who assisted in sorting out any difficulties that the ASMK officials encountered during the week of temporary race- track preparation. The main objective of this event in Gozo was to raise funds in aid of Arka Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of the spectators who attended this once a year activity, ASMK collected the sum of €1,020. During the presentation to the race winners the ASMK president, in the presence of Fr Michael Galea, director of ARKA Foundation, an- nounced the sum collected in just three hours. Fr Michael thanked the association and members for this donation to Arka Foundation and referred to the daily needs to run the Foundation. During the presentation of tro- phies to winning competitors the president of the Gozo Horse Racing Association, Mary Mifsud, and the CEO of Gozo Sports Board, Alvin Grech, were also present. Ms Mifsud thanked the ASMK officers for demonstrating their ability to change the horse complex from a horse track into an auto- cross cars track to accommodate car racing for both Maltese and Gozo drivers together. She said that she would continue to cooperate with ASMK officials to continue organizing similar activities in Go- zo in the future. Alvin Grech said he was pleased to see organisations such as the ASMK to contribute towards Gozo Tourism and Sports. He is pleased to assist the Gozo Sports Board in holding sports activities of this kind. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of ASMK where for the third consecutive year organized motorsport activities for cars and motorcycles in various locations around Gozo. Mr Grech expressed his thanks to all present, especially the ASMK officers who managed to convert the horse racing course into a Motorsport complex and for their excellent organization throughout the day's event. Frans Deguara, president of the association, thanked all ASMK of- ficers, the GHRA, sponsors and helpers for the event and said if the aid is again provided the ASMK is determined to hold more such events for both cars as well as mo- torcycles in Gozo over the coming year. The event on Sunday, in which 41 competitors registered for the competition, was divided into four classes: that for Maltese Autocross drivers and another class for Gozo drivers, an Autocross Standard Class with Maltese and Gozo driv- ers and the introduction of an Au- tocross Super class for the coming season. In the Maltese Autocross drivers we saw Godfrey Gauci on a Ford Fi- esta registering the highest points of the day though he did not win all the heats of the day. Thus Gauci sealed his place in Class A Finals. Andrew Pisani also qualified on an Opel Nova, Philip Joe Vella on an Opel Corsa, the Ford Fiesta of Christian Mario Apap, Jean Paul Grech on his Peugeot 106 and the Opel Corsa of Terence Azzopardi. With the Start of this final Pisani was seen to take the lead up front followed by Vella and Azzopardi. The focus has gone on the last place where Gauci began advancing driv- er after driver and following Azzo- pardi who now was the leader of the course. Soon Gauci was forced to withdraw due to a technical mal- function. The final result shows Pisani winning this race ahead of Azzopardi and Vella. Fourth place was awarded to Apap followed by Grech in fifth place. In the Autocross Class B Final we saw Noel Zammit on the Fiat Punto win this final followed by Gordon Johnson on an Opel Corsa while Jo- seph Micallef on Renault 5 finished the final in third place. In the Gozo Autocross we saw Marvin Grima on his Opel Corsa win the day's final event. Grima was followed by Frank Cefai on a Ford Escort while third place was awarded to Chris Sultana on his Nissan. Fourth place finisher was Matthew Saliba on a Ford Escort. In Autocross Standard cars final race with Maltese and Gozo driv- ers grouped together we saw Ian Fenech winning this class on his Citroen AX. Fenech was followed by Quinn Camilleri on his Peugeot 106. Third place finisher was Nick- ovich Chircop on a Peugeot 206 while fourth place went to Katrina Zammit on her Renault 5. Melvin Buttigieg finished in fifth place due to a spin while challenging the race leader for the finish on his Citroen AX. In Autocross Super Modified Class we saw the first two partici- pants registered – Martin Godwin on an Opel Corsa won this class fol- lowed by brother Joseph Martin on his Ford Escort Mk1. Meanwhile the Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi (ASMK) announced the 2016/2017 season calendar up to the end of this year. The first event is scheduled for the 30th October with the Trials mo- torcycles section performing their skills on obstacles. The Autocross and Motocross races at Ta' Qali are expected to start on 6th November. The First Moto Enduro event for Offroad enthusiasts will be held on 13th November. For further information one can visit the ASMK website www. asmk.org.mt