Ushan and Rumesha are top guns at Sevanagala
Driver Ushan Perera and rider Rumesha Bultjens stood above the rest among over 150 participants at the 9th Walawe Supercross 2019 held at the Craftsman Autodrome in Sevanagala last Sunday. Perera snatched the award for the Best Driver, after an electric turn of events, while Bultjens was crowned the Best Rider in the annual motorsport gala organised by the
Sri Lanka Electrical and Engineering Corps and conducted by Ceylon Motor Cycle Club.
Team CEAT, represented by Ushan Perera and Malika Kuruvitarachchi emerged the Best Team in Car events while Lahiru Jeevantha led his team — Sri Lanka Army — to glory, annexing the Best Team award in Motorcycles. Young and aspiring motorsport star, Kesara Godage, emerged the Up and Coming Sportsman for his prolific performances in both Cars and Motorcycle categories. Deshan Solanki, who dominated the Super Motard event, winning both its races, won the ‘Ananda Wedisinghe Memorial Trophy.
The Best Rider, Rumesha Bultjens, was only second to Jacques Gunawardene, who claimed the Race 1 win of the Class MX Motorcross. Bultjens was in full throttle in Race 2, as he managed to come from behind and snatch an impossible win and thwart Gunawardene from becoming the best among the riders. Shanuka Sandaruwan was comprehensive in both races to finish at third place.
Gunawardene had the easy opportunity to lift the Best Rider title, if not for his failure in maneuvering the muddy track in the Race 2. The instant Gunawardene failed to negotiate and fell on the track, Bultjens capitalised and dominated Race 2, and was adjudged the Best Rider. Last year’s champ, Ivon B. Gurusinghe faced an early exit from the events, when he met with an accident in the Class M Standard and Modified Street Trail
Race 1.
Ushan Perera, who finished third in the SL GT Class (up to 3500cc) Race 1, behind Ashan Silva and Kapila Nishantha, made a strong comeback in the second race to win the Best Driver award. But Perera had to make a one-on-one battle against Nishantha in Race 2, before winning it. Silva, who is the dominant figure in motorcar events, had to retire premature by Race 2, as his car toppled after the front right wheel crumpled. However, Silva was able to get his car back on the track and finished the race with a broken wheel amidst the applause of the spectators.
The 9th Walawe Supercross included 12 cars and 12 motorcycle events, while Causeway Paints came forward as the main sponsor. Ashok Leyland came in as a co-sponsor and Wijeya Newspapers Ltd contributed as the official print media partner for yet another year.
| CEAT Racing wins Car Team Championship at Walawa Supercross | |
 CEAT Racing’s Ushan Perera at the victory podium with team-mate Malika Kuruwitaarachchi (right) at the 2019 Walawa Supercross. The CEAT Racing Team clinched its second Car Team championship in three weeks at the Walawa Supercross organised by the Sri Lanka Army Regiment of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) on 22nd September, continuing its hi-Octane performances of the 2019 racing season. The team’s Ushan Perera was adjudged Champion Driver of the Walawa Supercross and with team mate Malika Kuruwitaarachchi took the Car Team Championship after Ushan Perera won the SLGT Super Car Race 2 and was placed third in the SLGT Super Car Race 1, and Malika Kuruwitaarachchi won the Subaru Legacy event. In all, the CEAT Racing Team accounted for eight podium finishes, with motorcycling ace Jacques Gunewardena winning Race 1 of the MX 250cc event and taking second place in Race 2, Upulwan Serasinghe winning the Ford Laser 1300cc event and coming in third in the Ford Laser 1500cc event, and Colonel Duminda Jayasinghe finishing second in the SLH 1600cc event. The CEAT Racing Team also dominated the Gajaba Supercross earlier in September, winning both the Car and Bike team championships at the Saliyapura circuit in Anuradhapura. |
| Final results | |
Cars
1: Kesara Godage (Nissan March 1000)
1: Imraz Firoze (Austin Mini 998)
1: Chamika Ranatunga (Nissan March 1000)
1: Thushan Perera (Mini 1275)
1: Shamal Wegodapola (Ford Laser 1300)
1: Upulwan Serasinghe (Ford Laser 1300)
1: Shenal Gunawardene (Ford Laser 1300)
1: Irfan Fahd (Honda Civic 1600)
1: Malika Kuruvitarachchi
1: Buddhika Ruklantha
1: Ashan Silva (Mitsubishi Evo 2000)
1: Ushan Perera (Mitsubishi Evo 2000)
1: Zakid Ahamed (Yamaha PW50)
Under-12
Under-12
1: Kesara Godage (KTM 85)
1: Raveesha Jayashan (KTM 125)
1: Lahiru Jeevantha (Yamaha YZ 125)
1: Deshan Solanki (Hasqvarna 250)
1: Deshan Solanki (Hasqvarna 250)
1: Shanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRFX 250)
1: Lahiru Jeevantha (Yamaha YZFX 250)
1: Jacque Gunawardene (KTM 250)
1: Rumesha Bultjens (Honda CRF 250) |