Aaron with experienced MotorGP rider Yukio Kagayama

This is the first time a Sri Lankan rider has got a break in an international circuit Suzuki, the Japanese marque introduced its own Asian series that runs in conjunction with the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) and Aaron will be part of the Suzuki team running for the Asian Championship.

Aaron went to Suzuka, Japan to take part in the Asian Road Race and rode his Suzuki 125cc bike in the third round of the five-round race. He is currently placed in the first ten.

Aaron who is the baby of the bunch was one of the first Asian riders to get an opportunity to pose on Aleix Espargaro’s Moto GP bike for a press release.

Espargaro and Maverick Vinales took Suzuki to another level and after a shaky start to the season Vinales and Aleix have finished in the top six at the last three rounds and sits at No. 5 and 7 on the world championship standings.

Young Aaron said he was excited to sit behind Aleix’s bike and touch the controls.

Aaron riding his Suzuki 125cc in the Asian Road Race at Suzuka.

“I like to say a big thank you to Suzuki for the motivation and I am happy to be part of Suzuki’s structured program,” said Aaron.

The proud Dad Shane said, “Suzuki’s efforts to discover and groom riders from the Asian region and Suzuki’s return to the MotoGP in 2015 have been really great. The collaboration with the Asia Road Racing Championship has motivated many riders from all parts of Asia and I have no doubt that we would see an Asian in MotoGP soon”.

Yukio Kagayama, who has abundant experience in MotoGP, World Superbike, World Endurance, and the Japanese Championship said he was happy about the progress Aaron has made so far.

“Champions are not made overnight. There is a long progression for young riders before they are ready to take on the challenges of the world stage,” said Kagayama.

“There is no short cut to success and the young riders trained from the Suzuki Asian Challenge must first be exposed to even more competitive racing in the higher classes.”

This magnificent event would be worked off at the uniquely constructed gravel track, promising an aura of excitement combined with the spills and thrills of motor sports similar to the nine previous events that proved roaring successes.

This grand event was introduced in the year 2014 under the stewardship of the then Colonel Commandant of the Regiment Artillery Major General S.D. Tennakoon RSP ndc.

It generates much needed funds for numerous welfare facilities for serving soldiers and the dependants of those who sacrificed their lives for the motherland during the protracted conflict in Sri Lanka.

The ninth Gunner Supercross concluded with a remarkable success and was also witnessed by a large gathering of spectators from all over the country. Over 120 competitors showed their prowess in motor racing. The dedication and commitment by Colonel Commandant, Commander Artillery Brigade, Commanding Officers and all ranks of the regiment involved in organizing this event would definitely achieve success.

The projects accomplished with funds accumulated from the nine previous Supercross events include construction of houses for the needy members of the Gunner family, construction of accommodation facilities for officers and other rankers, construction of a swimming pool for soldiers and students/ general public in the region, awarding of scholarships and computes to selected children of the Gunner family and also numerous other projects benefited the soldiers and their families. They have also extended the benefits for the population of Polonnaruwa region by way of arranging social welfare projects.

Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, CEAT Kelani International Tyre (Pvt) Ltd, Brown and Company PLC, Perera and sons, Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, Brantel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) have joined hands as the sponsors for gunner Supercross 2015 with generous contribution of all other sponsors and well wishes in Polonnaruwa district and the other areas of the country.

The world championship leader finished ahead of fellow Yamaha rider and world championship rival Jorge Lorenzo as he beat the lap record set by Dani Pedrosa on Thursday.

Rossi is bidding this weekend to win at Assen for the seventh time and break the tie for six victories he currently holds with legendary Italian-compatriot -Giacomo Agostini

Combined free practice times:

Moto GP

1. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 1min 33.167sec (lap record), 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) at 0.108sec, 3. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Ducati) 0.125, 4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.189, 5. Bradley Smith (GBR/Yamaha Tech3) 0.220, 6. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 0.283, 7. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.310, 8. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) 0.359, 9. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Tech3) 0.493, 10. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda LCR) 0.567

Moto2

1. Tito Rabat (ESP/ESP/Kalex) 1min 37.287sec, 2. Xavier Simeon (BEL/Kalex) at 0.228sec, 3. Johann Zarco (FRA/Kalex) 0.464, 4. Simone Corsi (ITA/Kalex) 0.574, 5. Thomas Luthi (SUI/Kalex) 0.584, 6. Sam Lowes (GBR/Speed Up) 0.614, 7. Jonas Folger (GER/Kalex) 0.634, 8. Luis Salom (ESP/Kalex) 0.752, 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Kalex) 0.888, 10. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Kalex) 0.902

Moto3

1. Danny Kent (GBR/Honda) 1min 41.588sec (lap record), 2. Romano Fenati (ITA/KTM) at 0.068sec, 3. Jorge Navarro (ESP/Honda) 0.313, 4. Alex Masbou (FRA/Honda) 0.656, 5. Efren Vazquez (ESP/Honda) 0.707, 6. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Honda) 0.739, 7. Karel Hanika (CZE/KTM) 0.925, 8. Niklas Ajo (FIN/KTM) 0.963, 9. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM) 1.014, 10. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA/Honda) 1.025

The 22-year old Young will be up against a immensely talented, experienced and highly accomplished set of opponents as the rally proper begins today following yesterday’s shakedown and ceremonial start of the night.

However, Ezy Racing’s team principal Shafraz Hamzadeen was rather confident of his protégé’s chances at the two-day event which will be the third leg of the prestigious rally series, ranked the highest such competition of the region by International Motor Racing governing body FIA.

“Young is a true champion, performing way beyond his age with an amazingly mature approach to driving. I am certain he will provide a strong challenge to the more powerful cars in the APRC category here. The Cusco Team which backs him up with technical support is a thoroughly professional unit and the combination of Young and his navigator Malcolm Read is a very formidable one. So, the chances of anything going wrong are very small. I am sure Young will punch above his weight and bring honours home,” Hamzadeen told  after the ceremonial start held last night at Caloundra town centre.

Young’s biggest threat will come from the extra strong Indian team MRF which pits two of the most powerful rally cars on earth with two champion drivers for this year’s APRC.

The factory supported Skoda Fabia S2000 cars are purpose built rally cars that are capable of smashing the rest of the field into smithereens through their sheer power and pace, and have got two of the strongest drivers in the field too for the bargain.

Swedish World Champion Pontus Tidemand and 2010 APRC Champion Gaurav Gill will drive the two MRF cars and will start off today as the firm favourites. With just three points separating the two champions in the overall standings after three rounds, the event is likely to offer fireworks even within the strongest team.

Tidemand who is presently a Skoda factory driver was the World Junior Rally Champion in 2013 and at the age of 24 is already a two-time Swedish Rally Champion. The tall champion leads the APRC points standings and will start off the rally here as the strong favourite.

Gill, who won the APRC in 2013, is a three-time Indian champion and is the most experienced of the APRC drivers, having taken part in the event for the past six years without a break. Another new entrant, a New Caledonia-based Frenchman Jean-Louis Leyraud, will drive a factory supported Skoda Fabia S2000 similar to the MRF Cars.

However Young who is driving a four-wheel drive machine in competition for the first time this season, has earned the honours of starting third in the line-up in his Subaru Impreza WRX Sti.

Also in the field would be three strong purpose-built rally cars Citroen DS3 R3 driven by three Australian teams including famous champion Eli Evans who clinched yesterday’s Power Stage of the event. A car called Peugeot 208 Maxi manufactured in Brazil and driven by another famous champion Mark Pedder of Australia which won the Power Stage of the local rally in four-wheel drive category yesterday is another strong contender.

Together with the Eleven competitors for the Round 3 of the FIA conducted APRC, 55 cars have entered the event.

Among them, Tidemand and his co-driver Emil Axelsson and Indonesia’s Subhan Aksa and his Italian co-driver Nicola Arena, have competed in the FIA World Rally Championship, the ultimate level of the competition, according to the event’s Media Manager Chris Nixon.

Tidemand and Axelsson clinched a podium for Skoda in the WRC2 category at the recent Rally de Portugal, while Australia’s champion co-driver Dale Moscatt who will be Mark Pedder’s co-driver for this event will travel to Caloundra immediately after contesting WRC Rally Italia Sardegna next weekend.

The organisers who had originally planned to hold the event in the Beerwah forests much closer to the rally base in Caloundra, were forced to shift to Imbil after the Sunshine Coast received more than 100 millimetres of rain in the past week.

Entry list:

International Rally of Queensland – Rd 3, 2015 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship -

1. Team MRF (India): Pontus Tidemand (Sweden)/Emil Axelsson (Sweden), Skoda Fabia S2000; 2. Team MRF (India): Gaurav Gill (India)/Glenn Macneall (Australia), Skoda Fabia S2000; 3. Cusco Racing (Japan): Mike Young (New Zealand)/Malcolm Read (New Zealand), Subaru Impreza WRX; 4. Bosowa Rally Team (Indonesia): Subhan Aksa (Indonesia)/Nicola Arena (Italy), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X; 5. Team MRF (India): Jean-Louis Leyraud (France)/Scott Beckwith (Australia), Skoda Fabia S2000; 6. Team Citroen Australia (Australia): Eli Evans (Australia)/Glen Weston (Australia), Citroen DS3 R3; 7. Pedders Suspension (Australia): Mark Pedder (Australia)/Dale Moscatt (Australia), Peugeot 208 Maxi; 8. Fibertech Medical (Australia): Tony Sullens (Australia)/Julia Barkly (Australia), Citroen DS3 R3; 9. Innate Motorsport (Australia): Adrian Coppin (Australia)/Erin Kelly (Australia), Citroen DS3 R3; 10. Super Alex Troop (Japan): Atsushi Masumura (Japan)/Akiko Nakagawa (Japan), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X; 11. Ahresty Rally Team (Japan): Fuyuhiko Takahashi (Japan)/Shigeru Ikeda (Japan), Subaru Impreza WRC

2015 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship for Drivers – Standings after Rd 2
1. Pontus Tidemand (Sweden) 70
2. Gaurav Gill (India) 67
3. Michael Young (New Zealand) 26
4. Subhan Aksa (Indonesia) 20

Speaking at the press, Vice President of SLAADA, Yoga Perera said that, this is an open event but every competitor must have a driving license.
The project accomplished much funds from the nine previous super cross events. And served worthy causes that included construction of houses, for the needy members of the Gunner’s family; also numerous other projects benefiting the soldiers and their families. We have also extended the benefits to the population of the Polonnaruwa region by way of arranging social welfare projects.
This grand event was introduced in 2004 under the stewardship of the then Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery present Major General, S.D. Tennakoon RSP NDC.

The excellent success of Sri Lanka’s most exclusive family gathering reiterated the fact that Mercedes-Benz still is the most aspired, valuable and the most loved automobile brand in Sri Lanka. The 25th Mercedes-Benz Pageant was held on Saturday May 2 at the BMICH from 7.30am to 12noon. A total of 560 Mercedes-Benz vehicles gathered under one roof.

The event was organised by the Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka and is sponsored by DIMO – the Authorised Distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka. This year is a significant year for the Mercedes-Benz Club as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Mercedes-Benz Club Committee comprises a team of seasoned die-hard automobile enthusiasts lead by Upali Kapilasena.

This year’s MB Pageant showcased more than 32 different models from the Pre-War era to the latest C-Class and GLA-Class. Best maintained ‘Stars’ from the respective models W201, W202, W123, W124, W126, W114/W115, 180A, 180B (220 Ponton), W110, W111/W112, W108/W109, W116, SL Old, 170 S, 170 V and Pre-War categories were judged and awarded.

The morning began with Mercedes-Benz customers parking their vehicles in the respective areas at BMICH. Thereafter they were treated to a sumptuous buffet from Mount Lavinia Hotel. Live music was played throughout the event, courtesy of ‘Flame’. Many activities were lined up for kids, ladies and gents to get them involved and keep them entertained.