The 2015/2016 Assoċjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi (ASKM) National Championships, backed by the sponsorship of Pasta Poiatti, came to a close recently with the last round of races.

The programme, with a strong participation of over 40 drivers and riders, started with the Trials and Motocross series and wrapped up with Autocross races, held under artificial lights at the circuit in Ta’ Qali later in the evening.

In Trials Class A, Damon Bonello rode his Gas Gas to another sound victory.

Again, Bonello showed great control on his motorcycle while negotiating his way past all obstacles during racing to maintain his undisputed leadership in the standings.

Bonello, who clocked up two clean sections from six, finished the day with only 13 penalty points against as he was declared the outright winner of the Trials championship.

Ian Scicluna and Bernard Sammut, both riding Beta motorcycles, were engaged in a tight race for the honours in Trials Class B.

Scicluna, the eventual title winner, held an early edge but in the last section he lost the little advantage he had gained on Sammut and both finished with the same total – 38 penalty points.

With the title issue already decided, Motocross riders figured in a 20-minute open race which was won by Paul Muscat on his KTM bike.

Ryan Faenza and Paul Deguara (both Yamaha) followed Muscat with William Sant (Honda) coming home in fourth place.

There was a high level of competition in the Autocross races as none of the drivers taking part succeeded in winning all heats in programme.

Jean Paul Grech (Peugeot 106) managed two wins and a second place for the best result in qualifying. He made the cut to the Class A final along with Gordon Johnson and Joseph Micallef (both Opel Corsa), Andrew Pisani (Vauxhall Nova), Josef Abela (Opel Nova) and Josef Grech (Ford Fiesta).

Johnson sped to the lead right from the first corner, a position he did not forfeit for the rest of the race. It was his fourth win in the last six races to finish runner-up in the National Championship.

Grech had to settle for second place on the day and Pisani followed in third.

Meanwhile, Dorian Galea (Fiat Ritmo), Terence Azzopardi (Opel Corsa), Karl Micallef, Jonathan Vella and Godfrey Gauci (all Ford Fiesta) and Christian Mark Galea (Fiat Ritmo) qualified for the Autocross Class B final.

Shortly after the third lap, leader Christian Mark Galea was forced to retire due to technical problems.

Provisional leader Gauci was then about to abandon the race as well after a fault in a front wheel when an incident developed. Micallef lost control of his car which finished upside-down trackside.

No-one was hurt but for security reasons the race was stopped. According to the rules, Gauci was declared winner followed by Azzopardi and Micallef.

Those qualifying for the Autocross Standard Class final were Johann Vella (Opel Nova), Deane Farrugia, Melvin Buttigieg and Ian Fenech (all Citroen AX) and Nicvich Chircop (Peugeot 206).

Chircop and Vella failed to finish after a contact early in the race as Standard Class champion Farrugia took the chequered flag followed by Fenech and Buttigieg in that order.

Section winners

Autocross
Modified Open: Christian Mark Galea (Fiat Ritmo).
Class A: Christian Mark Galea (Fiat Ritmo).
Class B: Joseph Micallef (Opel Corsa).
Standard: Deane Farrugia (Citroen).

Motocross
Class A: Clayton Camilleri (KTM).
Class B and Open: Mario Cauchi (Honda).
Enduro: Matthew Gauci (Yamaha).

Trials
Class A: Damon Bonello (Gas Gas).
Class B: Ian Scicluna (Beta).