Fox Hill Super Cross 2005 : Rehan and Aravinda dominate

by Bernard Perera

Rehan Buultjens and Aravinda Premadasa were the champions at the 13th Fox Hill Super Cross 2005 last Sunday at Diyatalawa. Buultjens rode his Honda CR 125 in great style to take the first stage of the championship event Group MX motor cycles up to 125 two stroke and 250 four stroke.

In this event he had to face stiff competition from veteran Super Cross rider Ananda Wedisinghe and last year's champion young Gayan Sandaruwan. Wedisinghe was in front from the word 'go' and held on to his lead until the third lap while Buultjens took over. Meanwhile Sandaruwan who was trailing behind fought back gallantly to reach the third slot just before reaching the chequered flag.

In the second stage of this event Sandaruwan made no mistakes and was in front along with Rehan Buultjens and Ananda Wedisinghe. Wedisinghe having a slight lead at the early stages. But Sandaruwan went ahead and went on to win. Wedisinghe who was placed second earlier was pushed back to the third position. Udesh Wedisinghe younger brother of Ananda on his Yamaha WR 250 CC won the street trail bikes event after a tough battle with Pasindu Pieris and Rohana Jayaratne.

Gayan Sandaruwan though he could not win both stages of the championship event had clear win in the 250 CC event. He had to battle Rehan Buultjens and Tuan Ossam in the first two laps, once he got ahead he never allowed others a chance to get closer to him until the finishing line.

Veteran Ananda Wedisinghe used all his past experience to the maximum to win the motor cycles up to 450 CC event against another veteran rider Nalin Perera and his brother Udesh Wedisinghe. The other rider from the Buultjens family Kevin too came up with a fine performance to grab the title in the motor cycles 85 CC classes. Harsha Kandearachchi and Pasindu Pieris were placed behind Kevin.

Nalin Perera had the better of Akila Batepola and Udesh Wedisinghe in the Group P Standard Street Trail Bikes two stroke 250 CC class. All motor cycle events were hotly contested giving all the thrills and spills for the large gathering of motor racing fans.

Aravinda Premadasa last year's SLARDAR champion and Fox Hill Super Cross champions had no difficulty in handling his Mitsubishi Evolution to win both stages for Group SL-A cars up to 3500 CC. In both races he got off to a flying start and none of the other competitors could get past him at any stage. But the second race was more interesting with Nalin Dilpriya Perera, Reyaz Farouk and Rizvi Farouk always chasing Aravinda.

Nalin and Reyaz too were behind the wheels of Mitsubishi Evo's. Though Rizvi was having less powered car, a Honda Civic 1600 CC he was seen in battle with high powered cars until the finish.

Upulwan Serasinghe was the other driver to excel in the Group SL-N Cars, Ford, Laser/Mazda up to 1500 CC. First he won in a Mazda 323 and later in the same category drove Ford Laser 1300 CC to victory making it a double for the day.

Shantha Suraweera drove his Subaru Impressa to make two wins at the Diyatalawa circuit. He was driving in the Group FIA-N-Cars up to 3500 CC and Group SL-N Cars 10-12 kg/hp category.

Group SL-N Cars up to 1600 CC it was Dinesh Jayawardene who stole the limelight in this event. driving his Honda 1600 CC which was covered completely with DHC colours after his combination with couriers.

This combination which made him the second sportsmen to tie up as sporting ambassador for the courier service. This race was one best seen on this track for the last thirteen years. Two more Honda Civics gong along side from start to finish the gap never was seen changed, showing the aggression of the drivers.

As expected Rameez Mahamoor and Madhushan Mannapperuma won their respective events. There were no major incidents seen on the track this day.

The two lady drivers Shehara de Silva and S.A. Lakshika could not live up to expectations on this day. Lakshika was placed third in SL-A Cars up to 1050 CC class. The motor cycle events for kids under 10 and 13 caught the eyes of all spectators. The events were won by Shanaka Jayana Sandaruwan, the younger brother of Gayan Sandaruwan last year's Fox Hill Super Cross Champion and Shazini Irshan.

Most of the riders were not happy with the scrapping of the 250 CC event and the open event.

It is time for SLARDAR to look in to the possibility of introducing them for the coming events for the year. This is important as spectators and riders both enjoy this class of events at any meet it also attracts more spectators.