Inverness Oran Sports

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Hunter MacDonald qualifies for national motocross event

With three straight wins in Atlantic motocross races this season, Port Hood’s Hunter MacDonald has already qualified for the TransCan Grand National championships in Walton, Ontario, next month.


-by Bill Dunphy

    Don’t even think about trying to keep up with this nine-year-old.
    Hunter MacDonald is busy every weekend, he’s fast, he’s good at what he does, and he’s heading to a national championship.
    Such is the life of an up-and-coming motocross racer, and Hunter is reaping the rewards of his dedication to the sport.
    For the uninitiated, motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. On Sunday at the Miller Meadow Motocross Park near the Stanfield International Airport in Halifax, Hunter won his third consecutive Motorsport Racing Canada Atlantic Region race in the 50cc division.
    “I love it,” Hunter said in an interview Monday. “I like going fast and I like the jumps.”
    Along with the 50cc bike, Hunter is also competing for the first time in the 65cc Peewee division. Unlike the automatic transmission on a 50cc bike, the 65cc has a clutch.
    “Some kids take a whole year or more to get used to a clutch bike, but Hunter took to it the very first time,” said his mom, Barbara MacDonald.
    “I didn’t have trouble with it. I just open up the clutch and go wide open,” said Hunter.
    In just his second full season of motocross, Hunter has been going at it wide open. Including his win on Sunday, he has also won in Brookfield and in Riverglade, New Brunswick, and is on top of the leader board with 125 points. His closest rival, Walker Treby of Brookside, is second with 108.
    Last year, Hunter had five second-place finishes, five thirds, and a fourth-place finish, but no wins.


    In two races in the 65cc Peewee division, Hunter has  a 9th and 10th place finish in the Atlantic circuit, but has finished second and third at Loch Lomond.
    “I already qualified (for nationals) in 50cc and I’m still going to try and qualify in 65cc. I’ll practise Saturday and then race, race, race.”
    The travel and the equipment is not cheap and Hunter is currently raising money and seeking sponsorship for his trip to the national competition.
    “Hunter has a few local supporters and small businesses who have donated to Hunter’s trip,” said Barbara. “We had a meeting last week with a business owner who wanted to meet Hunter. We had $3,000 in sponsorship last year and this year we have $800 so far, so we’re still seeking additional help.”
    The Walton (Ontario) TransCan Grand National championships are scheduled for August 14-17.
    “I’m looking forward to racing all the top drivers,” said Hunter.
    Hunter is one of five children in the MacDonald family to parents Barbara and Quinn.
    If you would like to help with their fundraising efforts, or become a sponsor, you can contact Barbara by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 


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