Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) has been compelled to omit the Commando Super Cross from its event calendar for 2021, as the organisers of the annual motorsport event decided to relinquish its commitments this year. Inaugurated in 2016, the Commando Regiment of Sri Lanka Army conducted it jointly with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing [...]

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Disappointment over omission of Commando Super Cross

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Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) has been compelled to omit the Commando Super Cross from its event calendar for 2021, as the organisers of the annual motorsport event decided to relinquish its commitments this year. Inaugurated in 2016, the Commando Regiment of Sri Lanka Army conducted it jointly with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) at its regimental training facility in Kuda Oya.

One of Sri Lanka’s main events in the motorsport calendar, it was held for four years continuously since its inauguration, except last year as the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic caused a cancellation of all events locally and globally.

When the Commando Super Cross was last held in 2019, Ashan Silva defended his title as Best Driver for a second year running. Ushan Perera won the inaugural championship while in 2017 Kushan Peiris was the best among drivers.

The Best Rider award has been shared among four of Sri Lanka’s dominant riders with Ivon B. Gurusinghe winning the inaugural one, followed by Ishan Dasanayake, Gayan Sandaruwan and Jacque Gunawardene.

The track in Kuda Oya is considered Sri Lanka’s fastest and the ‘Joker Lap’, customarily included at international meets, can be seen in the country as the ‘Commando Lap’.

Almost all drivers and riders have shown their displeasure with the decision to exclude the Commando Super Cross from the annual event schedule. They share diverse views but most are disappointed.

“The Kuda Oya track is Sri Lanka’s fastest I have contested in so far. Riders can make maximum use of their machines, which makes the race more competitive. There are bends here where riders can manoeuvre without breaking speed, which helps maintain the speed and excitement of a race. This option makes possible even for the last in the grid to compete well and get a podium finish. It’s a huge setback for all riders and drivers in general, for not being able to compete at Kuda Oya this season,” stated Gurusinghe.

Peiris outlined the importance of having a competitive event as part of the national championship.

“The Commando Super Cross is unlike any other event in Sri Lanka. It’s special. It was the event which introduced a Joker Lap to Sri Lanka, and competitors are eagerly looking forward for this. We missed the event and motorsports in whole last year, but we were eagerly expecting the Kuda Oya event this year,” he said.

Ace rider Sandaruwan however, thinks realistically about the situation that has been created by the global pandemic, which has hit sports activities and economies hard not only in Sri Lanka. But he hoped to see the event back next season.

“It’s understandable that organisers experience difficulty in finding sponsors, especially with the present background. The event is obviously a costly one with its surroundings, but we sincerely hope at least next season there will be a comeback,” said Sandaruwan.

However, a source from SLARDAR said whether the Commando Super Cross will be held or not this season has yet to be finalised. The official further stated that several rounds of discussions have taken place between the officials of Sri Lanka Army’s Commando Regiment and SLARDAR, and possibilities are high of including the Kuda Oya event into the SLAS annual events calendar in the near future. But as of now SLAS has released its annual event calendar sans the Commando Super Cross for 2021.

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