Cavalry Super Cross 2011:

Driver Dinesh and Japanese rider Tomoya champions

Bernard PERERA

The experienced and former champion driver Dinesh Deheragoda and Japan's Champion rider Tomoya Zusuki were the stars at the second annual Cavalry Super Cross conducted at the Pangolla Circuit on Sunday.

The Championship organized by Sri Lanka Army's Cavalry Regiment was conducted by Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders as part of their SLARDAR Championship 2011. The racing on this day was at its best with foreign riders dominating in the championship events. Specially the Japanese rider Tomoya Zusuki who showed his superior class by beating the local hero Gayan Sandaruwan in both championship events.

The two Indian riders KP Aravind and HK Pradeep were the only riders that posed a threat to the Japanese rider in these races. Two of them ended as runners up to Zusuki.

Gayan Sandaruwan was the most unlucky rider on this day as he suffered many mishaps during race one Group MX . First he had a nasty fall doing the second lap but managed to be back on track and was moving well to catch up the lost time while reducing the lead. He was to give a run to Zusuki. Disaster struck again when had another fall but never say die Gayan back on track, this time it was the machine that caused problems for him to be the loser.

The race two of the same category saw once again the Japanese off to flyer with Aravind, Gayan and Pradeep threatening Zusuki chasing right from the start. The first two laps saw Zusuki and Gayan engaged in a battle, Gayan's fall once again gave the upper hand to Zusuki and the two Indians to gain a substantial lead. Gayan back on track made a strong bid to fight the leaders but the worst happened again when taking the right corner went off the line where he suffered few injuries which also put him out of the event.

Zusuki showed real skills by having being in air for 80 feet when jumping over the table top. This he achieved on many times, while doing so he also had the advantage of increasing the lead to finish the event with comfortable ease.

The Super Car event was also an event that really thrilled the spectators to their maximum with the battle between Dinesh Deheragoda, Pasindu Peiris and Aravinda Premadasa. Dinesh who held the pole position made good use of this advantage and took off quickly to be in front from the beginning. Pasindu who was right behind the leader kept the pressure mounting on the leader but Dinesh kept cool and proceeded undisturbed throughout the race. Aravinda did not have the luck to reach the podium as he had to leave due to a mechanical problems and the second runner up position was picked up by young Janaka Dias.

The race No. two also saw Dinesh take honors with the same result being repeated. Here it took a dramatic turn as Premadasa who was trailing behind Pasindu with the chequered only 100m away Premadasa trying his best to go past Pasindu in the final bend crashed on hoardings which denied him the first runner position making it a sad ending for veteran driver Premadasa.

Ashan Silva competing in the 1600cc class drove his Honda Civic to win race one and two comfortably. In race one Ashan was leading with Padindu Peiris chasing all the way and Upulwan Serasinghe far behind trying all he had to catch up with the leaders had a nasty spin which destroyed the windscreens. Though the Marshals signaled him stop as the rules do not allow a car to be run minus windscreen he failed to stop and continued to drive further. At this stage the organizers had no other option but to halt the race and decide the winner from the stage where it was stopped. If not for the abrupt end to this race spectators could have witnessed another good race as it was a hotly contested one between Ashan and Pasindu.

The other veteran to driver for Ford Laser/Mazda 1300cc Upulwan Serasinghe won the two events for this class comfortably as expected. Though he won this class failed show himself well in the 1600cc class where he was outdone by young Ashan Silva. The local rider who made a great impact on this day was none other than young lad from Seeduwa Shehan C Adikari. He was seen competing in almost all classes and in the under 16 event where commenced the day on a winning note. This win boosted his morale and made good use of this to go flat out in every race he competed and went on to be the only rider to win a treble on this circuit. After winning the race for under 16 he won the Group MX 125 class comfortably ahead of Lahiru Jeevantha.

The other drivers to achieved success on this day are Pradeep Wijesiriwardene (Subaru 2000cc), Donald Buultjens (Mini 1000cc), Ajith Keerthi (SL-A Car up tp 1050cc), Sheran Fernando (Group J&T up to 5500cc), Harsha Panduwawala (Nissan March, Club event) and Irshaq Wahab (T&J Open ).

The opening event for the day for Forces' saw DUR Silva win the event ahead o HMGS Premaratne and PR Wijeratne. MGS Sampath Kumara was the winner in the Street Trail Bikes up to 250 cc class. The Super Motard Motor Cycles up to 250cc and open event were the other two events that saw great competition through out the races. The 250 class was by MGS Sampath Kumara, while the open event up to 450cc class winner was Indika Jayasinghe

The race for juniors under 10 was also an eye catching event with around 20 participants in competition which included three young girls riding. The race won by Shaveen Abhishek Wanaguru saw Thushani Hansika a girl reaching the podium as the second runner up. Jacques Gunewardene the cousin of Jaden and Aaron came in as the winner in the under 13 event with Jaden being the second runner up.

Kamal Chaminda (Street Trail bikes up to 125cc) and Haren Yatawaka (Street Trail Bikes Open) were the other riders who recorded victories.

Full results will appear later.