Motorsports: Ushan and Rumesha are top guns at 9th Walawe Supercross 2019

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. 

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 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 Jacque 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. 

Final results 

Cars 

SL E Class (up to 1000cc) Standard 
1: Kesara Godage (Nissan March 1000) 
2: Nirosh Jeewantha (Nissan March 1000) 
3: M.M.A. Jayantha (Nissan March 1000) 

SL A Class (up to 1000cc) Mini 7 
1: Imraz Firoze (Austin Mini 998) 
2: Namal Silva (Austin Mini 998) 
3: W.M.S. Tissera (Austin Mini 998) 

SL A Class (up to 1050cc) Modified 
1: Chamika Ranatunga (Nissan March 1000) 
2: W.M.S. Tissera (Austin Mini 1000) 
3: Dilanka Wijesuriya (Nissan March 1000) 

SL E Class (up to 1275cc) Mini 
1: Thushan Perera (Mini 1275) 
2: Nishantha de Alwis (Mini 1275) 
3: Suranjan Dabare (Mini 1275) 

SL E Class (up to 1300cc) Ford Laser/Mazda 
1: Shamal Wegodapola (Ford Laser 1300) 
2: Kesara Godage (Ford Laser 1300) 
3: C. Palliyaguru (Ford Laser 1300) 

SL N Class (up to 1300cc) Ford Laser/Mazda 
1: Upulwan Serasinghe (Ford Laser 1300) 
2: Mihan Peiris (Ford Laser 1300) 
3: Imesh Silva (Ford Laser 1300) 

SL N Class (up to 1500cc) Ford Laser/Mazda 
1: Shenal Gunawardene (Ford Laser 1300) 
2: Nishantha Senadeera (Ford Laser 1300) 
3: Upulwan Serasinghe (Ford Laser 1300) 

SL H Class (up to 1600cc) Honda 
1: Irfan Fahd (Honda Civic 1600) 
2: Upulwan Serasinghe (Honda Civic 1600) 
3: Zakir Wahab (Honda Civic 1600) 

SL H Class (up to 2200cc) Subaru Legacy 
1: Malika Kuruvitarachchi (Subaru Legacy 2000) 
2: Buddhika Ruklantha (Subaru Legacy 2000) 
3: Asanka Bandara (Subaru Legacy 2000) 

T&J Class (up to 5500cc) Diesel 
1: Buddhika Ruklantha (Mitsubishi Pajero 2000) 
2: Duminda Jayasinghe (Toyota Land Cruiser 3000) 
3: W.A.L. Narada (Mitsubishi Pajero 2800) 

SL GT Class (up to 3500cc) Race 1 
1: Ashan Silva (Mitsubishi Evo 2000) 
2: Kapila Nishantha (Mitsubishi Evo 2000) 
3: Ushan Perera (Mitsubishi Evo 2000) 

SL GT Class (up to 3500cc) Race 2 
1: Ushan Perera (Mitsubishi Evo 2000) 
2: Kapila Nishantha (Mitsubishi Evo 2000) 
3: Gamini Nelson (Mitsubishi Evo 2000) 

Motorcycles 

Class J (up to 50cc) Motorcross Under-10 
1: Zakid Ahamed (Yamaha PW50) 
2: Himasha Padukka (Yamaha PW 50) 
3: Ometh Niduwara (Yamaha PW 50) 

Class J (up to 65cc) Motorcorss Under-12 
1: Dineth Mihiranga (Yamaha 65) 
2: Rivinu Ratnayake (KTM 65) 
3: Ometh Niduwara (KTM 65) 

Class J (up to 85cc) Motorcross Under-12 
1: Hirusha Padukka (Honda CR 85) 
2: Rivinu Ratnayake (KTM 65) 
3: Minuka Ratnayake KTM 65) 

Class J (up to 150cc) Motorcross Under-15 
1: Kesara Godage (KTM 85) 
2: Tharuka Rumesha (Honda CRF 150) 
3: Gagana Fernando (KTM 85) 

Class M (up to 125cc) Standard and Modified Street Trails 
1: Raveesha Jayashan (KTM 125) 
2: Madhuka Peiris (Hasqvarna 125) 
3: Nihal Wijeratne (KTM 125) 

Class MX (up to 125cc) Street Trails 
1: Lahiru Jeevantha (Yamaha YZ 125) 
2: Kamaldeen Hamdan (Yamaha YZ 125) 
3: Madhura Peiris (Yamaha YZ 125) 

Class SM (125cc up to 750cc) Super Motard Race 1 
1: Deshan Solanki (Hasqvarna 250) 
2: Imal Manchanayake (Honda CRF 250) 
3: Sachira Rajakaruna (Yamaha YZF 250) 

Class SM (125cc up to 750cc) Super Motard Race 2 
1: Deshan Solanki (Hasqvarna 250) 
2: Biddhika Dinesh (Yamaha CRF 250) 
3: Sachira Rajakaruna (Yamaha YZF 250) 

Class M Standard and Modified (up to 250cc) Street Trail Race 1 
1: Shanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRFX 250) 
2: Lahiru Jeevantha (Yamaha YZFX 250) 
3: Madhura Peiris (Yamaha WRF 250) 

Class M Standard and Modified (up to 250cc) Street Trail Race 2 
1: Lahiru Jeevantha (Yamaha YZFX 250) 
2: Shanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRFX 250) 
3: Kamaldeen Hamdan (Yamaha WRF 250) 

Class MX (125cc up to 250cc) Motorcross Race 1 
1: Jacque Gunawardene (KTM 250) 
2: Rumesha Bultjens (Honda CRF 250) 
3: Chanuka Sandaruwn (Honda (CRF 250) 

Class MX (125cc up to 250cc) Motorcross Race 2 
1: Rumesha Bultjens (Honda CRF 250) 
2: Jacque Gunawardene (KTM 250) 
3: Chanuka Sandaruwan (Honda CRF 250)