By Post the Eliyakanda hill-climb from February, Sri Lanka’s next main hill-climb event, the 92nd Mahagasthota time-trial (0.429 miles, 690 metres long pure roads track – first took place in 1934) originally postponed due to fuel rationing in April, coincided earlier this month (16th-17th August) with opening Manx Grand Prix practice/qualifying sessions.
Competition itinerary mixed four-wheel, two-wheel machinery and a historic cars parade lap.
Two-wheel race conquerors included, overall, fastest, SP57 Racing Team’s Street Triple 1200 RS Triumph apparated Sasindu Prashansana (0.36.649 – Sports Touring Motorcycles up to 1400cc category also P1 in the Standard/Modified Supersport over 900cc up to 1000cc field).
Standard/Modified Supersport over 400cc up to 600cc class laurels were-netted by Nikila Pathirage (0.37.618 – top Supersport 250cc pilot as well) with brother Vinula Pathirage (0.39.142) and their father Mangala Pathirage, completing a full-family, all CBR 600 Honda mounted racer podium.
2026 Mahagasthota Hill Climb, top three 1000cc/600cc/Supermoto category rankings, are as follows:
(Best track time located near racer’s name)
Standard/Modified Super Sport 1000 cc:
1st – Sasindu Prashansana – 37.360
2nd – Harrish Sivagnanam – 38.124
3rd – Supun Suraj – 38.666
Standard/Modified Super Sport 600 cc:
1st – Nikila Pathirage – 37.618
2nd – Vinula Pathirage – 39.142
3rd – Mangala Pathirage – 46.778
Super Motard Open:
1st – Bhanuka Lakmal – 41.818
2nd – Dhanusha Fernando – 42.009
3rd – Thimal Perera – 42.943
Super Motard up-to 250 cc:
1st – Isuru Maduranga – 36.976
2nd – Buddika Dinesh – 38.333
3rd – Keshav Ragunathan – 39.751
Some extra specified class victors:
Sports Touring Motorcycles up to 1400 cc:
1st – Sasindu Prashansana – 36.649 (fastest two-wheel event participant)
Standard/Modified Super Sport 250 cc:
1st – Nikila Pathirage – 39.458
Standard/Modified Street Trail up-to 125 cc:
1st – Isuru Maduranga – 38.693
Photo credit: Michael Wincott
Words by Jan Vavra
