Nuwan and Gayan dominate at Ceygra Motorcross

By M. Naushad Amit
Hometown lad Nuwan Dassanayake and four-time SLARDAR champion Gayan Sandaruwan were among the top riders in the first round of the Ceygra Motorcross Championship held at the Goldwing Motorcross circuit at Pannala on Sunday. The meet comprised 14 events and Dassanayake proved his dominance on the Pannala track by winning four events out of seven - Street Trial up to 125cc 2-stroke, Racing up to 125cc (two events) and Street Trial Open. In the racing up to 125cc event, star rider Sanadaruwan proved his experience by winning the race with Dassanayake finishing second a great distance behind. Dassanayake finished third, next to Ishan Dassanayake in the race up to 125cc 2-stroke where Uhan Rajith Perera was the winner.

But all eyes were on the king of riders Sandaruwan when he won two of his events in grand style. Sandaruwan took part in three events but was unfortunate when he had to exit from the first event after colliding twice. He took a late start in the Racing up to 125cc event and fell colliding with a fellow rider on the first corner to become last in the first round. But a spectacular fightback saw him coming third in the fourth round behind Dassanayake and Tuan Ossen. Unfortunately a second collision in the fifth round with veteran rider Ananda Wedisinghe made him quit the race. Eventually Dassanayake went on to win his third event. Ishan Dassanayake and Ossen finished second and third respectively.

In the main event for the Racing Open title where most of the top riders took part, once again Sandaruwan took charge early entertaining the spectators with extraordinary jumps. The rest of the riders were in a close fight for the second and third places. After a keen contest Uhan Rajith Perera finished second while Tuan Ossen finished third. Apart from Dassanayake and Sandaruwan, young rider Shehan Sri Adikari won three events - racing up to 80cc (under 13), racing up to 80cc (under 16) and racing up to 80cc open. Dilan Bultjens the youngest of the Bultjens won the kids under 10 and PW under ten events.

Among the known names Sampath Kumara won his specialised event which is Street Trials up to 250cc and finished second in the Street Trial open events. Uhan Rajith Perera, a young rider without any backing, won the race up to 125cc 2-stroke event with a inferior machine. He also finished second in the open event next to Sandaruwan and became third in the race up to 250cc. Milan Nuranga won the novices up to 125cc event which was the opening event of the day.

Spectators were given their monies worth from the racing, but the organisers failed to do a good job where crowd control was concerned. A private security firm and the police were on the spot but they too didn’t do much as they seemed to be more interested in enjoying the meet. The organisers must make it a point to conduct the second and third rounds, which will follow in the coming months on the same track, in a more professional manner.