Young Bernard Sammut during the Trials series in Naxxar.

Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi (ASMK) officials were kept busy last weekend as a series of Autocross races was held at the circuit in Ta’ Qali while Trials riders were again testing their skills at the Naxxar quarry.

Outside Maltese shores, two Enduro riders – Andrew Cassar and Mathieu Salomon – took part in the Sicilian FMI championship.

The Autocross ‘A’ finalists were Vince Farrugia (Volkswagen Polo), Matthew Borg (Vauxhall Nova), Malcolm Borg (Opel Corsa), Melo Zammit (Ford Escort), Philip Joe Vella (Vauxhall Nova) and Christian Mark Galea (Fiat Ritmo).

Farrugia made an outstanding start and took the lead from the green light. Overtaking was limited but this was an interesting race to watch.

Borg and Galea encountered mechanical difficulties but Farrugia retained his position to finish ahead of Zammit and Vella.

In Class B, Gordon Johnson (Peugeot 205) had to deal with the challenge of Josef Abela (Vauxhall) and Josef Grech (Ford Fiesta) before taking the chequered flag.

The Trials races were held on Sunday. Competition was very technical with the experienced Robert Caruana being the only rider registering a clean section in the entire Class A series.

Caruana strengthened his lead in the championship with 20 penalty points. Nicholas Farrugia was second on his Beta while Fredrick Bonello (Gas Gas) placed third.

Rowen Bonello dominated Class B races at the quarry for a fifth successive win on his Beta.

Though circuit sections were different from those of Class A, Bonello still succeeded in winning the series with only one clean section on the day and 20 penalty points incurred.

Joseph Scicluna (Gas Gas) was second ahead of young Bernard Sammut (Gas Gas).

Earlier this year, a group of 11 Maltese riders, backed by the sponsorship of Virtu Ferries, also raced in Ragusa.

Sunday’s FMI Enduro International event, at Lungomare, saw the participation of 200 bikers.

Cassar and Salomon had to cover the track four times, a challenge that had riders contending with extreme and demanding varying terrain with steep, rocky edge paths and a boulder-rich riverbed too.

Cassar raced in the Veterans Class and managed a second placing in his category.

Salomon, who was competing in a more populated age bracket, finished fourth, missing the podium by a few points.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that other Maltese riders will be competing at the FMI Motocross Championship in Sicily and the Drag Racing Cup, in Santa Pod, this weekend.