Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/934206
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY 2018 Sport 22 ON Sunday 4 February ASMK is to continue the National ASMK Honda National Mo- tocross 2017/2018 Champi- onship. This activity will take place at the ASMK Sports Complex at Ta' Qali with the first race starting at 10am. Meanwhile, the sixth race of the National Autocross Championship 2017/2018 16 ASMK Pasta POIATTI was organised on Sunday, 28 Janu- ary 2018 and the drivers who registered for this competi- tion were divided into Stand- ard and Modified class cars. The day's racing included an S-Bend course with the Joker Lap. Following the three (3) Heats, Vince Farrugia on his Volkswagen Polo won all the Heats of the day. Farrugia, who was the only one who won the maximum points in the Heats had three penalty points deducted for hitting the direction cones on track. Thus he ended the Heats with the same total points as Gordon Johnson on his Opel Corsa and the Vauxhall Nova of Andrew Pisani. Together with these drivers, Karl Mi- callef on a Ford Fiesta, Jean Paul Grech on a Peugeot 106 and Ryan Scicluna on a Ford Fiesta formed the Final Class A Line-up. Right from the Start of this Final Race we saw Johnson and Micallef taking the lead but it was Johnson who cleared the first corner ahead of Micallef and Pisani. The attention was immediately drawn to the back marker on track as Far- rugia started the race from 6th place. Yet by the end of the first lap Farrugia had already advanced his placing as the car in front of him, driven by Grech, entered the Joker Lap. Unfortunately Farrugia had to retire from the race when one front wheel parted from his car. Later in the same Lap Grech had to retire because of an engine failure. Vehicle damage continued to domi- nate during this Final Race when in Lap No. 5 Johnson's Peugeot developed damage in one front wheel which forced him to reduce speed in the re- maining part of the race. By the 9th Lap Micallef won this Final A, ahead of Pisani and Scicluna while Johnson fin- ished in fourth place. The Final Class B qualifi- ers were Noel Zammit on a Fiat Punto, the Opel Corsa of Joseph Spiteri, Brandon Lee Sammut on a Peugoet 205, Keith Borg on a Vauxhall Nova and Melo Zammit on an Opel Corsa. This final was forced to start without Melo Zammit and Noel Zammit who were forced to withdraw before the start of this final due to mechanical problems. From the launch of this Fi- nal we saw Spiteri taking the lead and followed by Borg and Vassallo. During this race the timing for taking the Joker Lap played a very important role and resulted with the leader and the 3rd placed driv- er changing places for the rest of the race to the Finish Line. This resulted in Borg winning this Class B Final followed by Vassallo and by Spiteri. The Standard Class Auto- cross cars Final was com- posed by Deane Farrugia on a Citroen AX, Nicovich Chir- cop on a Peugoet 106, Kyle Agius on his Renault 5 Cam- pus, Chris Formosa on Ford Fiesta and Jerome Peplow on a KIA Avella. With the Start of this final we saw Farru- gia making a good launch so much so that he took the helm of the race by the first cor- ner. More over Deane started building advantage over his followers to save it in the Jok- er Lap. Farrugia was followed by Agius and Chircop who later in the race exchanged their placing. Shortly before the end of this Final Farru- gia and Agius made use of the Joker Lap but Agius lost a placing to Chircop as Agius's car momentarily lost traction and thus Chircop advanced his placing. The Race Final ended with Farrugia winning the race ahead of Chircop and Agius. Fourth and fifth place were won by Formosa and Peplow. Meanwhile earlier in the day on Sunday ASMK organised the third event of the ASMK Pasta Poiatti Trials National Championship with 12 reg- istered competitors being di- vided into two classes being the Advanced class and an- other Class for Juniors. During the day in the Ad- vanced Class Damon Bonello on a Gas Gas motorcycle won this competition followed by Rowen Bonello on a Beta. Third place finisher Joseph Scicluna also on a Gas Gas won ahead of Antonio Leon- ardi on another Gas Gas and and Tony Curmi on a Beta motorcycle. In the Junior Class Isaac Scicluna on a Beta won this competition followed by Ju- lian Scicluna on Beta. Third and fourth place finishers were Jaden Abela and Dion Micallef. Fifth and sixth plac- es were won by Karl Bartolo and Nathan Abela. All com- petitors in this class were rid- ing on Beta motorcycles. Rid- ers in this Class compete in a class specially designed for less experienced riders. Further information can be found on the website of the Association www.asmk.org. mt or on the Facebook page Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi. One can also make contact by email on:- info@ asmk.org.mt or via mobile phone 9942 5489. MOTORSPORT ASMK Honda Motocross at Ta' Qali next Sunday The Gozo Motorcross Association - Fun race THE Gozo Motorcross Association organised its first FunRace of the season, on Sunday, 28th January at Ta' Xħajma Motocross Track. Races started at 1pm. A rider reshuffle took place in all of the three classes. Class C welcomed two new riders who both did quite well. Glenn Vella achieved maximum points in this class while Kurt Fenech followed closely. New comer Mark Zammit came in third . In Class B Jorn Stellini also achieved maximum points followed by Matthew Zammit. Godfrey Bigeni came in third place. Joseph Bigeni won first place in Class A, Robert Spi- teri came in second while third place was won by Na- taiel Camilleri. On the other hand, the next category provided in- teresting fun as Class A riders challenged each oth- er with their 125cc dirtbikes. Etienne Bigeni in first place was followed by Steve Xuereb and Robert Spiteri respectively. Children who showed interest in this motosport were given supervised rides around the track. The as- sociation always encourages and welcomes new rid- ers. Round 5 of the Yamaha Gozo Motocross Champi- onship '18 will take place on Sunday, 18th February 2018. One can also visit the fb page – https://www.face- book.com/gmagozzo for regular updates.