The opening of the WotoMoto Enduro National Championship 2019/2020 opens on Sunday 17th November 2019. This tournament spread over six (6) events is also supported by several owners of quarries in Malta and Gozo. Five races will be held in Malta and one in Gozo with the first event is being held at the Sports Complex of ASMK at Ta' Qali and starts at 10:00 am. Non-ASMK members are welcome to compete in one of the respective classes.
The firm BETA of 'Wotomoto Company Ltd' will again be the main sponsor of this tournament for the third consecutive year of the 'BETA Enduro Challenge' 2019 right up from this first event. On this day racing is against the clock for all competitors on the specially formed track.
On this first event, the winner of the day who records the best race time will take home the prize of a brand new BETA motorcycle in addition to the trophy of the day. This motorcycle is given to the winner to participate with it for the whole one year season's racing including for the required training necessary in preparation for any race activity.
Meanwhile, on Sunday 10th November ASMK opened the Autocross cars season of the ASMK-Pasta Poiatti 2019/2020 National Championship where 18 competitors registered in the Modified or Standard class.
In the Modified Class Jean-Paul Grech on his Peugeot 106 won the highest score of the day and sealed his place for the Class A Finals. Ryan Scicluna on a Ford Fiesta, Gordon Johnson, Karl Micallef and Andrew Pisani all on Opel Corsa cars and Ivan Birmingham on a Suzuki Swift made it to this Start.
From the start of the race, Grech was seen to take the lead after the first corner while Johnson and Micallef followed close by. During the first lap Johnson lost two places to Pisani and Scicluna following their pass through the Joker Lap. The race continued with all drivers taking advantage of the Joker Lap in their preferred time. The Race Final ended with Grech registering his first win of the season followed by Pisani and Johnson respectively. Fourth place was won by Scicluna followed by Micallef. Birmingham withdrew earlier due to a mechanical failure.
The Class B Final race was composed of 4 competitors. Jonathan Camilleri on an Opel Nova, Alan Muscat on his Peugeot 205, Jurgen Cassar on an Opel Corsa and the Fiat Punto of Noel Zammit. Unfortunately, this race was dominated by technical and mechanical damage and lasted a few Laps. Zammit withdrew in the first Lap with engine problems. On the second Lap an anti-sportive contact by Muscat left Camilleri to retire thus Muscat was suspended from racing by the referee of the day. Also, Cassar who was leading the race was forced to stop after the third lap because of engine failure. Thus the final result reads Cassar as the winner of the race followed by Camilleri and Zammit respectively.
The Startline of the Standard Class was composed by Nicovich Chircop on a Peugeot 206, Kyle Agius on an Opel Nova and Jerom Peplow on a Kia Avella. Right from the start Chircop made a spectacular launch and took the helm of the race final followed by Agius and Peplow. Shortly before the end of the first Lap Agius was seen to take the Joker Lap and managed to take the lead ahead of Chircop who later during this Lap made an anti-sport deed on Agius. This resulted in the referee Warning Chircop by the Warning Flag. The race finally went on but then there were no changes in positions right to the Finish. Agius registered his first win the season followed by Chircop and Peplow respectively.
Another Autocross event is expected to take place on Sunday 24th November 2019 with a program starting 10:00 am by a Holy Mass for the deceased ASMK members.
More information can found on the website of the Association www.asmk.org.mt or Facebook pages named A.S.M.K. Malta or Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi. One may make contact by email:- [email protected]
Photos by Mario Micallef