Gunter caps off 1977 with his best ride of the year

Australian motocross legend Anthony Gunter’s story is well known! But out of his three Mr Motocross titles and three Australian Motocross titles, his win in the Unlimited class in 1977 at Acusa Park, South Australia is right up there with possibly one of the best rides of his career.

That year Gunter showed amazing determination and achieved some incredible results aboard his Suzukis, despite challenges throughout the year.

He won back-to-back Mr Motocross titles after displaying his fighting ability from the outset of the year when he crashed heavily in the first round of the Mr. MX series in New Zealand, and seriously injured his leg.

Several months of physiotherapy enabled him to be ready for the second round in Queensland, and from there on, he rode back to series leadership and his second successive Mr. Motocross title.

Photo: Anthony Gunter in action at the final round of the 1977 Mr Motocross series at Oran Park in New South Wales (By Peter Kitchingman)

He was fully fit at the Australian Championships at Acusa Park when he won his first Australian Motocross title in the 250cc class ahead of Mark Pace (NSW, Honda) and Stephen Gall (NSW, Yamaha), who finished second in Mr MX that year.

But in the Unlimited class, it was Gunter’s bike that let him down! After leading the first race from Kiwi Ivan Miller, Geoff Ballard, Hans Applegren, Graeme Smythe, Gall, Mike Landman, Stephen Dinsdale and Dave Fullston, he had a flat rear tyre at the half way mark of the 20 minute, plus one lap race.

Gunter didn’t pull out however! He just kept on riding at a slightly reduced pace. The determination gave him third place, and in the second leg he won by a considerable margin.

Gunter finished on 25 points to win the Australian Unlimited title over Ivan Miller (NZ, Suzuki) and Graeme Smythe (WA, Yamaha), who was earlier crowned the National 500cc Champion.