Ashan Silva and Pramuka Sesath stole the limelight at the Race meet held at the Rotherham Circuit, Katukurunda last Sunday. The meet was organised by the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations.
Ashan Silva drove his Mitsubishi Evo in the Group SL-GT 3500cc class with most of the highly renowned drivers starting off from pole position. He was off to a flyer with Missaka Naveen and Young Kushan Peiris challenging Ashan.
 The oldest member of the SLMCC Raja Sinnathurai (extreme right) who presented the awards to winners of Group ‘M’ - Supersport Bikes Over 900 up to 1000cc Pramuka Sesath, Maduranga Caldera and Dimuth de Silva .
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 The School girl rider Hansika Abeysinghe who outclassed male riders to win the Group O - Motor Cycles up to 160cc 4/T class seen in action. Pix by Ranjith Asanka
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 Senior Sports Journalist Bernard Perera of the Sunday Observer receiving the award for his services rendered in promoting Motor Sports for over 25 years from the President of Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club at the conclusion of the Katukurunda Circuit Meet last Sunday. Pic. Ranjith Asanka
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The race moving on to the second lap, Ashan increased his lead and it became a battle between Kushan and Missaka for second and third places. Ashan completed the race comfortably to win. Missaka and Kushan finished as runners up after a hectic battle.
Up and coming rider Pramuka Sesath competing against the current Champion Maduranga Caldera did well to outride the champion in the Group M - Supersport Bikes Open event Caldera could manage only the second slot with young Jaden Gunewardena challenging Caldera throughout the race.
Later in the day Pramuka also went on to win the Group M - Supersport Bikes Over 900 up to 1000cc class. In this too Caldera failed to overcome Pramuka who had a clean sweep in both events he competed to be the top rider of the day.
The day began with Group O – Motor Cycles 160cc 4/T event with two young women Hansika Abeysinghe and Sushmi Solanki competing against their opposite numbers. A School girl form Negombo, Hansika got off to a flying start and never gave her challenger to go past her and completed the event in grand stye. Meanwhile the other lass Sushmi too was in fine form and became the second runner up behind Vinula Pathirage.
The other young rider who performed well on the track on a 600cc bike was Jaden Gunewardena who overcame the stiff challenge from Sriyantha Anuradha and high ranking rider Ned Daniel in the Group M - Supersport Bikes Up to SS 600cc. Aaron Gunewardena the brother of Jaden who was closely behind the leader for three laps had pullout of the race when he had a nasty fall going past the final in the fourth lap. He was unable to be back on the track as his vehicle was damaged.
Sangeeth Suriyage who started his motor racing career as a formula driver and made an entry to the Group SM - Super Motard racing recently won the Group SM – Super Motard Motor Cycles Open event ahead of Dushan Mudalige and Dilanka Prabath. He was in the lead from the word go and went past the finishing line unchallenged.
In the car events most of the young drivers achieved victory. Specially this was proved with young driver Kushan and Shenal Gunewardena winning their races.
Kushan driving in the Ford Lazer/Mazda 1300cc who was on pole position and took off went ahead of all drivers to be the clear winner. Although the Gunewardenas Shenal and Romesh tried everything in store of them to outdrive Kushan failed and finished runners up.
Though Shenal failed to win the 1300cc class he put up a fine performance to win the Group SL - N Standard Ford Lazer/Mazda up to 1500cc in fine style.
It was an interesting day for all motor racing fans as they got the opportunity of seeing most of the senior members of the SLMCC present to witness the meet which can be considered as a milestone of the Club. One of the oldest members and a former President and a fine rider in the 50s and 60s Raja Sinnathurai’s presence was highly appreciated by all present .
Results - Motor Cycles
Group O – Motor Cycles 160cc 4/T
1. Hansika Abeysinghe, 2. Vinula Pathirage, 3. Sushmi Solanki
Group M – Supersport Bikes Up to SS 600
1. Jaden Gunawardena, 2. Sriyantha Anuradha, 3. Ned Daniel
Group M – STD/MOD Cycles 125cc 2/T
1. Mohamed Shazen, 2. Danushka Priyasad De Silva, 3. W.M. Weerasinghe
Group M – Supersport Bikes Open
1. Pramuka Sesath, 2. Maduranga Caldera, 3. Jaden Gunawardena
Group M – Super Motard Motor Cycles up to 250cc
1.Dushan Mudalige, 2. Kasun Danushka, 3. Pradeep Oshen
Group M – Super Motard Motor Cycles up to 250cc
1. Dushan Mudalige, 2 Kasun Danushka, 3 Pradeep Oshen
Group SM – Super Motard Motor Cycles One Make
1. Janith Chameera, 2. Sriyantha Anuradha, 3. S. Harish
Group M – Supersport Bikes Over 900cc up to 1000cc
1. Pramuka Sesath, 2. Maduranga Caldera, 3. Dimuth de Silva
Group M – STD / MOD Motor Cycles Up to 250cc 4/T
1. Nipun Dilanka, 2. Madura Pieris, 3. Sheron Fernando
Group O – STANDARD Motor Cycles Open One Make
1. Pathum Kumara, 2. Kalhara Fernando, 3. Danushka Jayawardena
Group SM – Super Motard Motor Cycles Open
1. Sangeeth Suriyage, 2. Dushan Mudalige, 3. Dilanka Prabath
Group O – STD/TOURIN Motor Cycles (Club Event)
1. Chanuka Ukwatta, 2. Purnaka Prasad, 3. Akalanka Perera
Cars
Group SL - E Standard Cars up to 1000cc Nissan March
1. Chamika Ranatunga, 2. Dilupa Palliyaguru, 3. Prasanna Ranasinghe,
Group SL - E Mini 1275cc
1. Saman Hemantha, 2. Niel Weerasinghe, 3. Thiran Perera
Group SL – GT Cars Up to 3500cc (Race 1)
1. Ashan Silva, 2. Missaka Naveen, 3. Kushan Peiris,
Group SL - N Standard Cars up to 1300cc Ford Lazer/Mazda
1.Kushan Peiris, 2. Shenal Gunawardane, 3. Romesh Gunawardane,
Group SL - A Modified Cars Mini 7 1000cc
1. W.N.S. Tissera, 2. K. Parameswaran, 3. Namal Silva
Group SL - S Specials Cars up to 1500cc
1.Geehan Deerasekera, 2. Shehara Jayawardena, 3. Dilan Sabar
Group SL - H Standard Cars up to 2200cc Subaru Leracy
1. Buddhika Ruklantha, 2. Malika Kuruvitarachchi, 3. Manoj Silva
Group SL - H Standard Cars up to 1618cc
1.Sabry Salam, 2. Shehara Jayawardana, 3. S. A. Harsha
Group SL – A Modifided Cars up to 1050cc
1. Thiran Perera, 2. Ajith Keerthi, 3. Michael Wijesuriya
Group SL - N Standard Cars up to 1500cc Ford Lazer/Mazda
1. Shenal Gunawardane, 2. Iduwera Senadeera, 3. A. Shanal Aponsu,
Group SL – GT Cars Up to 3500cc (Race 2)
1. Ashan Silva, 2. Kushan Peiris, 3. Missaka Naveen