Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/769023
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 4 JANUARY 2017 Sport MOTORSPORTS TENNIS Car Demolition for Strina on Sunday THE 'Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi' will be opening the Au- tocross and Motocross National Championships this Sunday. The Autocross will be racing on a new track surface which was renovated recently while the Motocross riders will be competing on a completely new track which now has a longer Lap distance of 1,430 meters. The Autocross track now has a greater vision for spectators to en- joy. The ASMK 2016/2017 season will be sponsored by the firm 'Pasta Poi- atti'. This particular Sunday pro- gramme starts at 10am with the Autocross and Motocross races. The programme is scheduled to close with the 'Once a Year' Demoli- tion Derby, being held for the 22nd year in aid of L-iStrina Foundation. It was scheduled to happen on 18 December but was postponed due to the very bad weather on that day. This Demolition Derby is expected to start at 3:30pm with the partici- pation of the 14 car drivers who will be in great competition, driving various coloured cars in the com- petition. The ASMK administration has worked hard to solve the problems caused by bad weather that have de- veloped on the race-track due to the storms and rainfall in the last weeks of 2016. Thanks too to the assis- tance and aid of several benefactor contractors, including 'Central As- phalt Ltd 'and 'Polidano Group' the racetracks project is now complete. These works were executed under the leadership of ASMK Projects Manager Lawrence Darmanin, who managed to guide the assoication to finalise the project of the Autocross cars which was scheduled to be fin- ished by last 18th December. The cars and motorcycles cham- pionship can now be launched on good race track surfaces. The association notifies that due to previous events postponements over these last months, the ASMK 2017 Events Calendar has now been updated and is available on the of- ficial website www.asmk.org.mt Further information together with Championships standings can also be found on this website and in the Facebook pages 'A.S.M.K. Malta' and 'Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi'. One may also make con- tact by email to info@asmk.org.mt Andy Murray off to winning start ANDY Murray celebrated his ascension to number one in the ATP world rankings and his knighting in the New Year's Honours list by beating Jeremy Chardy in the first round of the Qatar Open. The 29-year-old Scot, who has been formally recognised by the Queen for his services to ten- nis and charity, brushed Chardy aside in a 20-minute first set be- fore triumphing 6-0 7-6 (7/2) in Doha. France's former Australian Open quarter-finalist had ral- lied to ensure a contest in the decider, but his poor perfor- mance on the return of serve led to his early elimination from the hard-court tournament. At the end of a defining year in which he won his second Wim- bledon title and another Olym- pic gold medal, Murray beat his fierce Serbian rival Novak Djok- ovic in London to conquer the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time and secure the year- end number one ranking. Last week he recovered from an exhibition defeat to David Gof- fin in Abu Dhabi to beat world number three Milos Raonic in straight sets and he stepped up a gear - or two - on Tuesday night in Qatar. Chardy, whose sole victory in nine prior meetings with Mur- ray came at the 2012 Cincinnati Masters, was helpless to resist the Scot's serve in a lightning opening set. The world number 69 upset the match 's momentum by breaking Murray in the first game of the second set, but was unable to keep hold of his own as his op- ponent fought back in typical fashion. Chardy remained keen to force a third set and composed several thrilling rallies on his way to the tie-break, but ultimately Mur- ray's tireless counter-punching and wide range of shots got him over the line. Now Gerald Melzer lies in wait for the British number one. The Austrian left-hander, who de- feated Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-7 (2/7) 6-3 6-2 to reach the second round, has never played Murray before. Andy Murray