Ashan and Shanuka take centre stage
Sri Lanka’s top driver Ashan Silva and Shanuka Sandaruwan emerged as the best driver and rider at the inaugural Colombo Supercross held at the newly laid motor racing track in Navy Racing Club in Welisara.
Ashan who bagged the best drivers’ award at the recently concluded Foxhill Supercross held in Diyatalawa a fortnight ago, continued his form as he bagged the best drivers award with his scintillating driving to win the two SL – GT Cars upto 3500cc events with ease.
In fact it was a one horse race as prominent drivers in the likes of Pasindu Peiris, Ushan Perera and a host of others following were way behind the Ashan who stamped his class. Twenty- one- year old Shanuka, younger brother of champion rider Gayan Sandaruwan, who needs no introduction to the motor racing fraternity, bagged the best rider’s award which he is achieving it for the first time. For the record Gayan has won over 30 best rider awards in the top racing meets around the island and also has also won the overall champion rider award a record nine times. Shanuka too was in top form as he had the spectators on their feet with his dazzling jumps in his Honda CRF250 bike and his two wins in the Group MX over 175cc upto 250cc(4T) and over 100cc upto 125cc(2T) too turned out to be a one sided affair. Apart from these two races, Shanuka won another event to end up with three wins and also came second in another event and he is sure to follow his brother’s footsteps and will be seeking to achieve more glory in the racing meets due to be held in the future. Twenty-year-old Kushan Peiris too continued his dominance as he too followed his double win at the Foxhill Supercross by coming out victorious in his two pet events - the Group SL N Standard Cars – Ford Laser/Mazda 1300cc) and Group SL H Cars upto 1618cc.
Kushan has so far, within two months has been successful to come out on top in more than ten events comprising the Nuwara Eliya Festival motor racing meets and the previous two the Foxhill Supercross and Colombo Supercross.
Rider Imal Manchanayake was the other successful participant to win a double as he too bagged two races following his double at the Foxhill Supercross. Imal came out on top in the Race 1 and 2 of Group SM – Super Motard 250cc upto750cc (4T) and including 125cc upto 500cc (2T) Mono Twin Cylinder (Race 2).
Two other drivers Ajith Kumara and Manjula Wijesinghe too bagged a double with Ajith coming out on top in the SL A Mini 7 upto 1000cc and SL A Modified cars upto 1050 cc events and Manjula the SL H Subaru Legacy 2000cc and Group T and J Diesel Turbo upto 5500cc events.
The Colombo Supercross conducted in collaboration with SLARDAR and AMRC held for the first time came in for high praise from the majority of competitors, brushing aside rumours being spread by interested parties with vested interest. Mithun Sigera (Yamaha YZ125). 3. Lahiru Jeewantha (Yamaha YZ125).
1. Jin Liyanage (Yamaha YZF250). 2. Shanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRF250). 3. Mithun Sigera (Honda CRF250).
1. Shanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRF250). 2. Lahiru Jeewantha (Yamaha WRF250). 3. Sandaru Shanilka (Yamaha WR250).
1. Imal Manchanayake (Honda CRF 250). 2. Deshan Solanki (Suzuki RMZ250). 3. Sampath Weerasinghe (Honda CRF250).
1. Shanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRF250). 2. Jin Liyanage (Yamaha YZF250). 3. Madura Peiris (Yamaha YZF250).