The Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi (ASM) organised the first Trials championship event after a 10 year break. 15 Trials riders are competing in Classes A and B.

This event was followed by the 10th session of the competitive Autocross races.

Trials in itself is a motorcycle sport riding over various natural or man-made obstacles and penalty point are gained during the rider’s performance in all the particular sections.

Yet, if a rider falls or abandons his bike, he gains the maximum of 5 points. The day’s event was based on six sections carefully selected for Class A and B riders. Each rider had to do these sections three times in rotation with other competitors.

In the first two sections, veteran and coach John Bonello, on a Gas Gas bike, were leading the event with Gary Bonello on a Montesa, both with 14 points.

After Section No. 4, Damon Bonello and Robert Caruana, both on Gas Gas bikes, and Debono, took the lead with 22, 25 and 30 points respectively.

Sections 5 and 6 were dominated by Damon Bonello and he won overall in Class ‘A’. Robert Caruana and John Bonello placed second and third place respectively.

A number of novices participated in Class B with less challenging and less daring sections. Competition was high and up to section 2, Wayne Zahra made Clean runs on his 260cc Gas Gas.

Wayne was followed by David Dimech, on a Gas Gas, and Rowen Bonello, on a Beta. Now it was Dimech who performed clean passes up to the fifth Section and gained only seven points to the finish.

He was followed by young Rowen Bonello and Jonathan Camilleri with 25 points each. The first three winners of each section were presented with trophies by Frans Deguara, the ASM president.

In the Autocross championship, Patrick Cassar made his comeback by winning the three heats and dominated the six car Class A contestants.

Cassar, on his Opel, took the lead over Christian Galea, in a Fiat Ritmo, right from the start to the first right hander and held his position to the chequered flag with a marginal distance over the rest.

Galea and Melo Zammit, close to each other, were leading ahead of Manuel Muscat, who was driving a VW Polo instead of his Corsa.

Christian Calleja, who joined Autocross only some months ago, held well to the continued pressure from Malcolm Borg, on another Opel Corsa.

All the six drivers demonstrated excellent driving and sportsmanship on the track’s loose surface throughout the nine laps of this final A race.

In the Class B final, Philip Joe Vella battled hard for the lead with Matthew Borg both on Opel Nova. After the second lap Borg overcame Vella’s Opel.

Some distance back, Brian Azzopardi, on a Ford Ka, was battling with Mario Scicluna’s Opel for a number of laps. Soon the race was dominated with mechanical failures. Vella’s Opel slowed due to a mechanical failure and Azzopardi took second place but was soon forced to retire completely due to mechanical failure.

Scicluna took advantage of such situation and was driving in second position towards the race finish while his transmission broke and he was forced to retire completely too and left three cars only on track.

The race finished with Borg winning outright and he was followed by Philip Joe Vella and Mario Scicluna in second and third place respectively.

The next event to be organised by the ASM, which includes Autocross and Motocross races, is scheduled for 11 March. First race starts at 11am. Official practice sessions will be held on Saturday 10 March in the afternoon.

The Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi (ASM) organised the first Trials championship event after a 10 year break. 15 Trials riders are competing in Classes A and B.

This event was followed by the 10th session of the competitive Autocross races.

Trials in itself is a motorcycle sport riding over various natural or man-made obstacles and penalty point are gained during the rider’s performance in all the particular sections.

Yet, if a rider falls or abandons his bike, he gains the maximum of 5 points. The day’s event was based on six sections carefully selected for Class A and B riders. Each rider had to do these sections three times in rotation with other competitors.

In the first two sections, veteran and coach John Bonello, on a Gas Gas bike, were leading the event with Gary Bonello on a Montesa, both with 14 points.

After Section No. 4, Damon Bonello and Robert Caruana, both on Gas Gas bikes, and Debono, took the lead with 22, 25 and 30 points respectively.

Sections 5 and 6 were dominated by Damon Bonello and he won overall in Class ‘A’. Robert Caruana and John Bonello placed second and third place respectively.

A number of novices participated in Class B with less challenging and less daring sections. Competition was high and up to section 2, Wayne Zahra made Clean runs on his 260cc Gas Gas.

Wayne was followed by David Dimech, on a Gas Gas, and Rowen Bonello, on a Beta. Now it was Dimech who performed clean passes up to the fifth Section and gained only seven points to the finish.

He was followed by young Rowen Bonello and Jonathan Camilleri with 25 points each. The first three winners of each section were presented with trophies by Frans Deguara, the ASM president.

In the Autocross championship, Patrick Cassar made his comeback by winning the three heats and dominated the six car Class A contestants.

Cassar, on his Opel, took the lead over Christian Galea, in a Fiat Ritmo, right from the start to the first right hander and held his position to the chequered flag with a marginal distance over the rest.

Galea and Melo Zammit, close to each other, were leading ahead of Manuel Muscat, who was driving a VW Polo instead of his Corsa.

Christian Calleja, who joined Autocross only some months ago, held well to the continued pressure from Malcolm Borg, on another Opel Corsa.

All the six drivers demonstrated excellent driving and sportsmanship on the track’s loose surface throughout the nine laps of this final A race.

In the Class B final, Philip Joe Vella battled hard for the lead with Matthew Borg both on Opel Nova. After the second lap Borg overcame Vella’s Opel.

Some distance back, Brian Azzopardi, on a Ford Ka, was battling with Mario Scicluna’s Opel for a number of laps. Soon the race was dominated with mechanical failures. Vella’s Opel slowed due to a mechanical failure and Azzopardi took second place but was soon forced to retire completely due to mechanical failure.

Scicluna took advantage of such situation and was driving in second position towards the race finish while his transmission broke and he was forced to retire completely too and left three cars only on track.

The race finished with Borg winning outright and he was followed by Philip Joe Vella and Mario Scicluna in second and third place respectively.

The next event to be organised by the ASM, which includes Autocross and Motocross races, is scheduled for 11 March. First race starts at 11am. Official practice sessions will be held on Saturday 10 March in the afternoon.