The ASM has organised the 11th event for the Autocross and the fifth event for the Motocross riders last Monday. Both events qualify for the ASM-Pasta Poiatti national championships.

During the Autocross heats Patrick Cassar (Opel No. 3) and Christian Galea (Ritmo No.2) won the highest points during the three qualifying heats thus securing their place in the Class A Finals.

During the nine-Lap Final A race Christian took the lead ahead of Cassar and Emanuel Muscat, this time on a VW Polo which is his second championship car. Cassar increased pressure on Galea especially after the first right-hander and both drivers drove to their limit in the safety way.

Suddenly Cassar’s Opel broke a drive shaft and he was forced to abandon the race during the first lap. Muscat took advantage and started pulling hard on Galea while Josef Abela on a Nova and Brian Azzopardi on a Ford Ka battled their way in third and fourth place respectively. Azzopardi tried various ways to beat Abela but after seven laps Abela’s small mistake made him lose control of his car and so even did Azzopardi as his efforts were unfruitful.

Karm Mifsud, on his veteran Hillman Imp, took advantage of the situation while Abela and Azzopardi corrected their positions and jumped into third place. On the ninth lap, Christian Galea took the Finish Flag first who also increased the gap in the championship scale. Muscat and Mifsud finished in second and third overall.

From the start of Autocross Class B, Matthew Borg on his Nova, took the lead outright. Josef Grech on a Fiesta and Vince Farrugia on a VW Polo followed close by but Borg built a small gap on his followers during each lap. Yet after the second lap, Farrugia beat Grech but on the seventh lap, Matthew’s car developed an electrical fault and slowed its pace while Farrugia overtook him. But Farrugia’s car also developed a mechanical failure some 300 metres to the finish line and abandoned the race. Grech moved to the lead, Borg took the finish flag for second place and Robert Attard, on a Fiat Uno, placed third in Class B.

The Motocross Class A was highly competitive and full of surprises in all the three race heats.

In Heat 1 Paul Muscat on his new KTM took the lead while his brother Chris and Clayton Camilleri all on KTM’s battled right behind but after the first lap of the 12 minutes race, Clayton beat Chris and Carmel Borg on his Suzuki RMZ who was in fourth position also started to add pressure on his leaders.

The race went on and Borg managed to beat Chris Muscat during the last eighth lap. Paul Muscat won the first heat, followed by Camilleri and Carmel Borg in second and third place respectively.

During the second heat there was very close fast racing but without any overtaking. Yet this race was great to watch right to the end. Paul Muscat took the lead again, but now he was followed by Carmel Borg and Stefan Dimech in second and third place respectively.

During the third heat Clayton Camilleri took the lead ahead of Paul Muscat and Stefan Dimech. During the second lap, Paul Muscat lost some time because he fell from his bike but continued to race while Dimech took second place. Paul was fast enough to beat all and finish second overall in this hot sporty race. Camilleri finished first, Paul and Christ Muscat finished in second and third respectively.

James Zahra on a Honda in Class B made a good start ahead of Turu Micallef on a Honda and Trever Muscat on a KTM. On the second lap, Zahra lost his bike and Turu Micallef took over to the end of the eighth lap. The second heat started with Zahra leading for five laps but Micallef took the lead again to the finish.

In the third heat Turu Micallef led the pack for six laps but Zahra took over again. James Zahra finished 11st with Turu Micallef in second and Charles Borg from Gozo placing in third place in true sprotmanship among all competitors.

Next Sunday is another busy Sunday for all Motorsport spectators and for ASM executives as the programme includes a Small Car demolition with a limited number of competitors but the day’s programme is to also include another Autocross and Motocross event.  Racing starts at 10.30am and the Demolition is scheduled for 4.30pm.