Etienne Bonello won the Delimara event the past weekend after a frantic last lap in which he managed to overcome a strong challenge from Maurice Formosa.

Delimara was the testing ground for the third round of the national point series.

The circuit ,which features hard steep climb, was made harder with the heavy rainfall of the night before turning part of the circuit in mud pools and slippery sections.

The riders braved the race conditions as they lined up for another gruelling race.

The start was very fast straight from the line up to the first hill just after 50 metres.

Gerard Said took the lead and hammered onto the pedals till the top opening an interesting margin. Mark Bonnici went to his chase and the two stayed away for the first lap.

Back in the main group Maurice Formosa, Etienne Bonello, Jason Vella and Clive Ebejer closed down on the front runners with Bonello and Formosa attacking as they reached the leaders. The two cruised along the second lap as they slowly increased their lead.

Into the third lap Bonello attacked Formosa before the top of the climb and rode away from Formosa. Formosa went onto Bonello’s chase as the latter increased his margin.

Bonello cruised into the remaining laps when a punctured wheel just before the final lap almost spoiled his race. Bonello managed a swift wheel change as Formosa almost ate down on his lead. Bonello rode the last lap in frantic pace and managed to keep his place and win the race in 1:03:19. Formosa came in second place in 1:04:13 while, Jeffrey Borg outsprinted Clive Ebejer for third place in 1:04:56.

Bonello now leads the provisional standings of the national points series with 670 points with Clive Ebejer in second place with 570 points and Maurice Formosa in third with 550 points.