Deguara graduates at Miżieb

Paul Deguara, driving his home-built Motoflash Yamaha, joined an elite list of overall winners when he became the fourth different driver in five events to stand on the top step of the podium at the ICC Hill Climb held at Miżieb on Sunday.

On a hot and humid morning, Deguara was master of the day, posting the fastest time in his first timed run and improving on that again in his second run to stop the clocks at 39.009.

In second place was the winner of the previous three editions of the Miżieb Hill Climb, Lino Brincat on his Bardahl Dallara Alfa Romeo.

Miżieb is just the sort of hill that allows 60-year-old Brincat to use his experience and clean driving style to good effect.

Whilst Brincat in second place was the oldest competitor at Miżieb, Zach Zammit, at 20 the youngest in competition, placed third with his Jagger Ralt Honda 2000. In less than two weeks both these competitors will be racing at the Etna Hill Climb in Sicily so you could see a certain amount of caution and restraint in their driving on Sunday.

Joshua Anastasi had a day of mixed fortunes. He misjudged a corner on his second practice run but stopped millimetres short of a concrete wall, then broke a chain on the start line missing his first timed run.

So, you could say that fourth place overall was a more than a decent result. Joshua and his John Bull Racing Kawasaki still lead the championship by one point. He, too, will be glad to have left Miżieb in one piece since he will also be making the trip across to Sicily.

Matthew Zammit was relieved to find that his Service Express Van Diemen Suzuki was working on all four cylinders on Sunday after the disappointment of Cesaro.

And the same can be said for sixth-placed Steve Zammit Cutajar whose Doda Tatuus Hyabusa looked a lot more responsive following a revision of the front suspension geometry. He, too, goes to Sicily with plenty of optimism.

The fastest touring car at Miżieb was Mark Galea's Subaru Impreza which finished an excellent seventh overall.

The number of competitors at Miżieb was down on usual standards, but this is quite understandable when one considers the unfavourable hot and humid weather.

What was very much up was the standard of organisation and running of the event. Starting right on time, the event ran like clockwork.

Next stop is Sicily for 12 of the competitors but back here the next round of the championship takes place in Xagħra, Gozo, in just three weeks.