22nd Foxhill Supercross speeds off on April 19 at Diyatalawa…..

All arrangements have been finalized to conduct the much looked forward to motor racing event of the year the Foxhill Super cross organised by the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) in association with Sri Lanka Auto sports Drivers Association (SLADA) scheduled to be held at the SLMA racing track in Diyatalawa tomorrow.

The Foxhill Supercross which is in the 22nd year is being sponsored by Ceypecto, Ceat, Singer and a host of other corporate joining the fray as co-sponsors.

This time out the competition is going to be fierce due to the fact that young and talented drivers and riders have sprouted in the recent past. The Foxhill meet this year is going to be one of the toughest as this year a few adjustments has been made to the track.

Mohammed Balooshi the Dubai based motocross specialist who has won the Arab Motocross Championship, Bahrain Championship, the Tunisia and Kuwait Championships who has also participated in the famous Dakar Rally, who is in charge of the track upgrading arrived in Sri Lanka a few days ago.

The organizers with Balooshi’s help are looking forward to improve the track to international standards in helping the local riders to face international motocross meets with confidence.

The participation in both the motor car and bike categories is no doubt going to be fierce due to the fact that young and talent drivers and riders have emerged in the recent past.

Experienced drivers in the calibre of Aravinda Premadasa, Dinesh Deheragoda and Upulwan Serasinghe have been given a torrid time in the recent past by some of the up-and-coming drivers and a young driver to take note of will be Kushan Peiris son of another experienced driver Dhammika Peiris.

However Aravinda is a veteran in this event having won the Super car event eight times. Aravinda has carried away the top driver’s award on five occasions. He first won the top driver’s award in 1997 and again 1999.In the millennium year he won it in 2001, 2004 and 2007.

The motorcycle events are no second to the car events and the emergence of young Shehan C. Adikari who has been successful in the recent motocross meets has given the spectators their money’s worth.

But the cynosure of all eyes will be the Indian riders who have had success in the previous meets and Gayan Sandaruwan who has won the top rider’s prize on four occasions.

The Foxhill Supercross is not only entertainment to the competitors and the spectators but is also regarded and seen as a worthy project for the upliftment of the infrastructure and facilities at the SLMA in providing to train officers to carry on what their predecessors inherited.

All these are achieved with success from the funds generated from the Foxhill Super cross which was especially introduced in the year 1993. Twenty four events are lined up for the day which comprises 12 events in both the motor car and motorcycle categories. The championship races are grouped as Group SL-GT up to 3500cc and Group SL-H up to 1600cc in the motor car category.

Motorcycle races comprises of Group MX-Racing Motocross bikes up to 125 cc 2 Stroke, up to 250cc 4 Stroke and Group MX-Racing Motocross up to 85cc (Under 16 years).

Over 150 drivers and riders are expected to participate in the races organised by the SLMA and SLADA and the spectators are assured of top class competition from 8.30 a.m. on wards at the SLMA motor racing track.