The Federation of Motorcycle Sports in Sri Lanka conducted its annual National Championship Awards ceremony last Saturday at the Eagles Lagoon View in Katunayake where nine riders who excelled during the year 2019 were awarded honours at the gala event with teenager Hansika Abeysinghe being the star of the show.
Eighteen year old schoolgirl Hansika Abeysinghe was the cynosure of all eyes when she received her fourth consecutive title in the Standard Motorcycles over 125cc up to 160cc. She achieved her success competing against the men brilliantly throughout the 2019 season.
Hansika who started her riding career four years ago showed that she is one female rider who is capable of challenging male riders with stunning success.
She continued her success up to last year making it a record for any rider in the Standard Motorcycles Over 125cc winning the same Championship for four consecutive years. Hansika’s great achievements on Sri Lankan soil also paved the way for her to take part in international meets too where she did well to be on the podium on many occasions.
Competing in the FIM conducted Asia Cup Road Racing she was placed as the second runner up.
Hansika speaking to the Sunday Observer said that she had a liking to ride motor cycles from her younger days with her father’s support.
“This brought me success and even now my mother too is keen to see me compete in major events for which both of them encourage me to continue with the sport,” said Hansika.
Kesara Godage who is a rider as well as a driver too was the National Champion in the Racing Motorcycles MX 85cc 2 stroke/150cc 4 stroke under 15. He too was a rider who competed in all major events conducted in Sri Lanka where he came up with many victories to be the champion for the year.
Super Motard Motorcycles up to 250cc class Championship was won by up-and-coming youngster Dushan Mudalige. He is a rider who entered the racing circuit in the year 2019 and also did well to be the Champion in the very first season.
Madura Peiris is another teenager who rode a Standard/Modified Street Trail Bike up to 125cc 2 Stroke to take away the Championship reaching the podium on many occasions gathering points to be the champion of the last season. He too is a youngster with a bright future in riding on tarmac surface.
Shanuka Sandaruwan following his brother the former Super Cross Champion Gayan Sandaruwan who held the championship for many years, was among the champions in the Standard/Modified Street Trail 250cc 4 Stroke. Shanuka during the last season showed that he is one of the riders with a special prowess on gravel circuits. He said that his ambition is to continue racing in the future to be a champion in this class for a long period and hopes to better his brother’s record. He also said that his brother extends the fullest cooperation for him to be on the track.
The other Champion rider in the Standard Modified Motorcycles Over 100cc and up to 125cc 2 Stroke is Stephan Fernando who performed extremely well during last season and was selected as the Champion in this class.
Deshan Solanki became the National Champion for the Super Motard category on gravel circuit up to 750cc class.
He too is one of the best Super Motard riders who hopes to go a long way.
Nipun Dilanka rode on a Standard Modified Super Sports Motorcycle up to 250cc to bag his National award for the year 2019. He is also a classy rider to be reckoned with for the future capable of bringing honor to Sri Lanka.
Jacques Gunewardena became the most versatile rider in the MX 250cc category. During the last season he showed outstanding prowess on his bike in a thrilling manner to prove that he is a rider with a mission which was fulfilled in the latter part of the season. Though he failed to live up to expectations in the first two events during the season he struck form and went on to add points which brought him success.
The mega ceremony was held on a grand scale with former rider and president of the Federation of Motorcycle Sports in Sri Lanka, Feroze Omar, as the chief guest in the presence of large gathering of former riders, officials of leading clubs and special invitees.