Update with photos – Gozo Motocross Association has said that it was once again successful in its endeavour to promote and enhance motorbike sports in Gozo.

Friday and Saturday evening, saw the second edition of Xtreme Trials & Endurocross organised by the GMA in collaboration with Kercem Local Council as part of the Kercem Beer & Wine Festival 2016.

Trials, Enduro and Cross motorbikes left their natural habitat to showcase their riders' skills in a unique event that left spectators in awe.

A massive outdoor area was transformed into a man-made track that included logs, stones, different sized tyres and vehicle wheels, large cable reels, tree branches, water potholes and other objects. The GMA said that these obstacles provided a challenge for the riders who found it next to impossible to complete the route with their motorbikes in the least possible time.

This kind of competition has been introduced in America and also in Europe in the last few years. The Gozo Motocross Association made this event possible for the second time around on the Maltese Islands.

GMA together with the Kercem Local Council, worked very hard during the last two months in preparation for the event which turned out to be an immense success.

Competitions took place over two evenings. Set up under artificial lighting, the track offered a splendid platform for the riders who presented a great racing spectacle for all those present.

Central to the track, Trial bike sections were set up using scrapped cars, cable reels, concrete blocks and other obstacles that provided the Trial rider to show astonishing technique, balance and stability while moving from one obstacle to the other with a minimal number of mistakes possible.

In the Endurocross competition, riders started their route in two's, with a couple of seconds in between. They competed in three heats with two laps each, on both days. The route was not an easy one, and riders faced an impossible challenge with a show of aggressive strength and power amidst the cheering of the their fellow riders and the spectators. Rider Joseph Scicluna came in first at 1min 08 sec, followed by Bernard Sammut at 1min 12 sec, Gozitan Robert Spiteri at 1min 20 sec and Damon Bonello and Gozitan Steve Xuereb at 5th place respectively also at 1m 20sec with a difference of less than a second between the two of them.

Meanwhile the trials competition was won by Malta Trials Champion Damon Bonello, followed by Joseph Scicluna and Ian Scicluna respectively.

Following the challenging motorbike racing on Saturday, Kercem Mayor, Mr Mario Azzopardi thanked and congratulated the Association for their professionalism during both preparation and implementation of the event. He also thanked everyone involved for their hard work and dedication towards making this event a huge success.

President of the GMA awarded trophies to all the riders who participated. Mr Alvin Grech awarded Trial winners, while Horace Vella, chairman of the Kercem sub-committee, handed winning trophies to the best five participants in the EnduroCross competition.

The president of GMA, Mr Frank Xuereb gave a plaque to the Mayor to show the association's appreciation for all their hard work, support and encouragement so that the Motorsport in Gozo strengthens its roots and grows.

Meanwhile the Gozo Motocross Association commended and thanked all the participants and also the members of the Association together with each and every helper who contributed towards the success of this event.

The GMA advised that the public, especially motorbike enthusiasts, can look forward to the Gozo Motocross Championship 2016-17 consisting of 8 events, will commence in September 2016, together with several Fun Races and other motorbike activities that will take place along the whole Season up until May 2017.

Photographs by Alain Salvary

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