Mr consistent Ryan Hunt took a comfortable 5th place overall in the over forties 2016 International World Vets race at the Glen Helen circuit in California USA this last weekend.
This was Hunts 2nd big International this year, as he recently returned from the UK where is competed in the International World MXDN Vets event at Fairleigh Castle finishing 11th overall the best overall position of the SA team riders that took part he then returned to South Africa to clinch his 12th SA National MX Title and his 4 decades of SA National Motocross championships an all-time SA record.
Huge crowds attended the Glen Helen event in the USA to view some of the best teams and riders from all over the world, the field saw ex world champions all well over 40 going head to head with each other in two gruelling heats in which none of them seemed to have lost their touch and were all remarkably quick.
“The 2 heats were some of the toughest racing I have experienced, as none of the riders in the full field gave an inch, they all fought to hold their positions, it really did not seem to be an over 40’s Vets race,” said Ryan Hunt (Tork Craft) “For starters every rider wanted the hole shot and one had to ride like hell to keep your position, passing was another problem as no one wanted to give up a position and where riding defensively in both heats, I was happy with the result and I really enjoyed the racing, said the SA Champion Hunt.
Daryl Hurley (Hus)New Zealand who raced the AMA series for four years, with his best result being an 8th in the 125 class at Budds Creek in 2003, easily won the Over-40 Pro class at Glen Helen. Hurley was one of 16 New Zealanders at the 2016 Dubya World Vets. UK’s Ex World Champion and last year’s winner at Glen Helen Kurt Nicoll (KTM) took 2nd spot overall followed Japans Kenjiro Tsuji (Hon), in the best finish for a Japanese rider in the history of the event, 4th went to the Spanish national champion Javier Garcia Vico (Hon) and a solid 5th from South Africa’s Ryan Hunt (Hon).
The top ten had riders from New Zealand, England, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Canada and the USA.
Caption: Tim Sharp (714) hole shot the first moto of the Over-40 Pro class, but lost the front end at the bottom of Shoei Hill. He suffered a broken leg—evident to those who look closely at the photo. SA Ryan Hunt is on the outside see Olfa mud guard
RESULTS: OVER-40 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Glen Helen Raceway
1. Daryl Hurley (Hus)………………1-1
2. Kurt Nicoll (KTM)………………..2-2
3. Kenjiro Tsuji (Hon)……………..4-3
4. Javier Garcia Vico (Hon)………3-4
5. Ryan Hunt (Hon)…………………6-5
6. Gordon Ward (Yam)…………….5-6
7. Brian Wheeler (Kaw)…………..8-7
8. Julian Cerny (Kaw)……………..7-8
9. Jeff Willoh (Suz)…………………11-9
10. Brandon Milstead (Yam)…….10-10
11. Ron Lechien (Kaw)……………12-11
12. Shawn Wynne (YAM)………..13-12
13. Mike Reefman (Yam)…………9-17
14. James Lavender (Kaw)……..15-13
15. John Kirkcaide (Hus)…………18-14
16. Ed Foedish (Yam)……………..17-15
17. Aaron Hunt (Yam)……………..19-16
18. Jurgen Kuppers (Kaw)………16-21
19. Chad Hartman (Kaw)………..21-18
20. Geoff Walker (Suz)……………20-19
