Nuwan hails from a family of motor racing champs
Anushka WITHANAGE
Nuwan Dhanushka Roland Senarath Dassanayake, winner of three
motorbicycle events at last Saturday's Fox Hill Super Cross - the
Standard 125 cc, 250 cc and Racing Class 125, is one of Sri Lanka's
topmost riders hailing from a family of men and machines.
"My uncle Mirando was the first to start motor racing in Sri Lanka,
and my father's brother Upul Dassanayake was also a former racing
champion of Sri Lanka and his son Naveen Dassanayake was also a great
racer and this factor inspired me to take to motor racing in 2003,"
reminisced a proud Nuwan of his family background and himself. Nuwan
says that he was over the moon feeling after his three wins at Fox Hill.
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Nuwan astride his winner |
"Winning those three events last Saturday means much to me. It is
something special," says Nuwan who revealed that winning atop a 2002
model was even greater 'for the reason that it is an old model bike.'
Nuwan says that his idol for long has been former rider Ricky Kar
Michael.
Nuwan regards Gayan Sandaruwan, who was adjudged the champion rider
on motorbicycles at the Fox Hill, as his closest rival.
"I have always given Gayan a fight though he is exceedingly fast on
the track. But we are good friends and Gayan's father Jayatissa helps me
a lot to further my motor racing career.
He also credited Gayan Motors, Jagath Aruna, Nishantha Fernando, Aroz
Jiffry, Neil uncle, cousin brother Avindra and Upali uncle who it was
who supported me throughout my career and coached me teaching me the
finer points in motor racing.
Nuwan says that his immediate priority would be to visit his brother
Naveen in the USA, who is attached to the Honda Racing Company, and
further fine-tune himself in the field of motor racing. Races won by
Nuwan: 2003-'04: 4 stroke 125 Single Cylinder 'Suntel Wow' Championship
title twice.
2003: Mcfoil Challenge Cup
winner.
2004: Daelim Motor race
winner.
2006: '07 won 125
Standard/125 Racing
Class at the Motor
Cross.
2007: Rex Hill Motor Cross
- three times 1st
runner-up and three
times 2nd runner-up.
2009: Winner in Lake Cross event; first runner-up in two
races; 2nd runner-up in two races.
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