South African Ryan Hunt, who was based in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s and raced British championships plus GPs and the Des Nations, has been honoured with the Golden Helmet Award for Life time achievement for his huge success in motocross over four decades.
Hunt, a legend of South African motorsport, has competed for 37 years and is still racing. He helped his country to fourth overall in the Vets Nations at Farleigh Castle in September.
Ryan’s motorsport career began thirty-seven years ago, when at the age of 10 he competed in the South African National Motocross series. Having won every category he competed in, Ryan moved to Europe armed with eleven Motocross titles to his name. After an illustrious international career, he returned to South Africa with the aim of winning national championships in each of the four decades he has raced, this he achieved last year by clinching the SA National MX3 class, giving him his remarkable record of 4 decades of SA National titles. This is a first ever recorded 4 decades of SA National wins for any SA motocross rider.
He won numerous SA events, regional championships, local and International MX, Supercross events staged in SA and abroad, he travelled and raced in the UK, Europe, and the USA, which did not go unnoticed as he was awarded his Springbok colours and received the Protea Award for his success’s in the sport.
Overseas wins included the Master Supercross class for 3 consecutive years at the Weston Super-Mare Beach race a record in this events history as no MX rider has managed to win this race for 3 years running. He was an official SA team rider in the legendary Trophy Des Nations and many other events in Europe and the USA.
He finished 11th overall in the 2016 International MXDN world event at Fairleigh Castle in the UK the best overall position for a SA rider, some months later 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.
“We have unfinished business at Farleigh Castle, next year we will be on the podium.” Profound words from this humble gentleman. Ryan ranks among South Africa’s most successful motorsport competitors.