Formula Plus Gajaba Super Cross : Gayan, Aravinda heroes at Saliyapura

by Bernard Perera

Young Gayan Sandaruwan and Aravinda Premadasa stole the thunder at the Formula Plus Gajaba Super Cross 2005 at Saliyapura Circuit on Sunday. Gayan won all three events he competed to carry away the championship trophy for riders. Meanwhile Aravinda winning his two events in the SL-A cars event for 3500 cc was declared as the champion driver to receive the champions trophy.

Gayan became the hero on this with his dare devil riding on a day completely belonged to him. He rode in style from very first race he entered the Group MX Motorcycles 125 2T and upto 250 4T. This event saw the leading names Tuan Ossen and Pasindu Peiris.

Gayan was a late starter and was trailing behind Ossen and Peiris occupying the fifth position for almost two laps. From there onwards Gayan was seen at his best handling the machine in full control to get past one by one. Before the completion of the third lap he was in front in the amidst cheers from his fans. He kept on increasing the lead where none of the riders could close the gap. Gayan finished as the comfortable winner.

The next event too was a tough one for him failing to get a good start. Here it was Rehan Bultjens and Tuan Ossen in front in the 125 2T and upto 250 4T event. Gayan made inroad in the third lap handling his Honda CRF 250 immaculately. There were instances he went over the hurdles covering two humps to cover up the loss that occurred at the start. This resulted in giving him an advantage, and got past the two front riders to clinch the event to make it two in a row.

The third and final event for Gayan was more interesting with veteran Anand Wedisinghe entering the grid on his Honda CR 400 cc. Others who were in the battle here was Rehan Buultjens and Pasindu Peiris and a host of leading riders.

Though Gayan was off to a flier could not be in the front as the field was heavy. Cool headed Gayan waited for the best opportunity to get past the top runners. No sooner he got the chance he went past all to be the race leader in the third lap. He kept on increasing his lead at every second to be the first to receive the chequered flag from Mahesh Gammanpila. This was his third victory for the day which also made him the champion rider at Saliyapura circuit.

Aravinda Premadasa won the Gajaba Super Cross Championship for the fifth successive year when he completed a double on this day. Driving Mitsubishi Evolution, he first won the SL-A Cars upto 3500 cc event which also was the longest race with 8 laps.

He had to face stiff competition from Riyaz Farouk and Feroz Oma in their Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru STI. Premadasa was in front from the word go but two runners-up Omar and Farouk were seen hanging on to Premadasa's tail right through the race but was never had the opportunity of overtaking the winner. As the race leader Premadasa controlled the race.

The last race for the day two was won by Aravinda Premadasa Here it was a different story. Premadasa had to trail Feroz Omar as the latter went ahead at the start. Premadasa used his experience to maximum use and waited for correct time to go past the leader. He made a good move in the third lap when Omar gave room at the first left-hand corner from which Premadasa made good use of it. He went into win the event comfortably from there onwards increasing his speed to make it a double.

The other drivers to excel on this day were Nishan Wasalathanthri last years SLARDAR champion in the Ford Laser - Mazda category. Last Sunday too he went onto win both events in this category. He had to face a battle against Upulwan Serasinghe who is also fighting for a place in the championship in this category.

On two-wheeler it was Rohana Jayaratna and Ishan Dassanayake who won a double each. Jayaratne was in Peak form and went onto win his two events comfortably. Dassanayake too had no difficulty in winning his events.

The motorcycle event for kiddies under 10 was a thrilling one which attracted the eyes of all spectators amounting to over 20,000. Supun Lakshitha was the winner in this event with Shanuka Sandaruwan, the younger brother of Gayan Sandaruwan taking the runners-up position. The youngest competitor Chamod Samarakoon (five years) was seen completing the two lap race going over all hurdles with ease.

Joshna Karpinski was the winner of the under 16 event for Juniors.

In the T & J Category it was Col. Ravi Mayadunne and Wasantha Madola who made an impact. The SLARDAR championship sponsored by CIC Auto Colour 2005 championship concluded in grand style on this day conducted by Sri Lanka Association for Racing Drivers and Riders with the full blessing of the Sri Lanka Army's Gajaba Regiment based at Saliyapura, Anuradhapura.

Sir Lanka Army's chief of staff Major General Sarath Fonseka was the chief guest and gave away the main awards.

Commander of the Gajaba Regiment Major General U. B. L. Fernando who was also the chairman of the Formula Plus Gajaba Super Cross 2005 also distributed awards to winners.