- Says this year’s Fox Hill may be a long shot
The President of the Federation of Motorcycle Sports in Sri Lanka (FMSSL) Shane Gunawardena, said that he will be having discussions with officials from the racing community towards the immediate resumption of this year’s stalled racing calendar.
He however cast doubt on the possibility of the calamity-struck Fox Hill SuperCross being conducted in 2025 despite the organisers being serious about its resumption, in view of the unprecedented catastrophe last year.
Gunawardena also urged the racing authorities to yet scour the possibility of conducting this year’s 29th edition of the Fox Hill Supercross-which event met with its now infamous accident 12 months ago.
The once-popular racing meet organised by the Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa and with the support of the now-suspended Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS), was plunged into chaos last April.
This was after eight persons died while 23 others were injured, following an accident involving two cars, with one ploughing into spectators having veered off the track.
The devastating incident forced the event organisers to cancel the meet forthwith and its immediate future was thrown into doubt.
Separate investigations were conducted by the Army and Diyathalawa Police respectively, to identify the reasons behind the crash and those responsible for it.
However, 10 months down the line since the horrific incident, the authorities concerned, are yet to officially announce the outcome of those probes to the country.
It is in this backdrop, the FMSSL has decided to implore the authorities to restart the racing calendar for 2025, without further delay as the pervading uncertainty does not bode well for neither the competitors nor the viewing public.
Gunawardena said that the FMSSL was determined to see the revival of the Fox Hill SuperCross on behalf of the wider racing community, but under heightened security measures and with adequate guidelines for spectators, not to venture onto the race track.
He said according to information available to him, the restart of the Fox Hill SuperCross could be a long shot in view of the events which transpired 12 months ago.
He expressed optimism that rest of the races in the calendar such as Gunners, Gajaba, Wijebahu, Cavalry and Walawa, will press ahead even if there were to be a delay in the Fox Hill.
Gunawardena, himself a former ace motorcycle rider in his own right, said that the Fox Hill SuperCross which was revived after a five-year break in 2024, after the Easter Sunday terror blasts 60-months prior, should still have a prominent place in the domestic racing circuit.
But he was quick to note that last year’s horrific scenes at Diyatalawa should not define the event for future generations of riders and motor racers alike.
Gunawardena added that he will be urging the Army Motorsports Committee and all affiliated clubs to finalise the 2025 racing calendar, warning that any further delays could extend the current uncertainty for years to come.
The FMSSL President during his five-year term has significantly elevated the country’s motorsport standards with him due to conclude his stint next May.
In close collaboration with FIM and FIM Asia, he launched marshal training programmes led by international experts, which have enormously enhanced safety protocols following last year’s Super Cross tragedy.
(JK)