Motorsports: Sangeeth Suriyage, from BMX to International Supermoto Rider

Sangeeth Suriyage (23), a very adventurous supermoto rider who began his carrier with BMX, progressed to Formula cars and then to Supermoto in Sri Lanka. 

A businessman following in the footsteps of his dad and as General Manager of the family Cycle business, he persisted as a Rider for Helibees Club and gradually gained guidance and confidence from champions such as local Supermoto champ Ned Daniel and European Champ Chris Hoggen. 

He is the first Sri Lankan Rider to take part in a British Supermoto Championship. 

Sangeeth says he remembers when he was a toddler when his dad gave him an oversized bike. 

"I could not keep my feet on the ground, yet I wanted to race in the first Cyco Cross in 2000, where I did well by coming 3rd, although I was angry. That was the day I inculcated my fighting spirit. At St. Joseph’s, I chose to play Basketball and Rugby, where I laid the foundation for many things in my life. However, I did not shine in my studies. In school, I reached the pinnacle in sports with the fighting spirit I inherited from Cycling." 

"I had the craze to race and raced in an old Chally. I did my own modifications and raced. As a dropout from school after O Level, I had time, so I started experimenting in various sports but always chose the adventurous types."
 
Regarding his ranking in Supermoto, he says: "I don’t know ..but at present, I have been on a winning streak - three 1st places in nationals conducted by the FMCCS at Katukurunda, Pannala and Mirigama tracks and several Runners- up places on 250cc and 450cc."
 
His aim is to win the nationals in October and to win a medal in Asia or Europe, to keep Sri Lanka on the Supermoto road map. 

His most recent achievement was when he was invited by the Norasport Racing Committee for the British Supermoto Championship in the UK to represent Sri Lanka. 

The event took place at the Teesside Autodrome, a real Supermoto track of 2km per lap with 19 contestants. 

The race was run to a European format for British National 'A' grade riders. The main three events were conducted on August 21, where the first 10 British Nationals were in the fray. 

"In the first race, I came 8th out of 19, with an overall timing of 14.51.885 minutes. My best lap timing was 01.21.250 minutes. In the 2nd race, although I had the best lap timing of 1.21.123 minutes, I came 17th due to a tire puncture during the race, which made me retire from the race. In the third race, starting from the back of the grid, I came 5th out of 19 riders with an overall timing of 13.58.093 minutes, with my best lap timing of 01.21.083 minutes. My dream is a podium finish at the next British Supermoto Championship," he said.