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Mister Motocross series over four rounds
1979 MISTER MX SERIES - BROADFORD (VIC), Tivoli (QLD), Clarendon (SA), Amaroo (NSW)
Photos: [Left to right] Anthony Gunter rolls out a brand new works Suzuki RM 400 in the final at Amaroo Park in 1979; and celebrating his third Mr. MX title
Gunter pulls out secret weapon in final to snatch third Mr. MX
New South Wales rider Anthony Gunter won his third Mister Motocross (Mr. MX) title after overtaking series leader Greme Smythe (WA) and reigning champion Stephen Gall in a thrilling final in front of 8,000 people at Amaroo Park (NSW) on 2 September 1979.
Armed with a works Suzuki RM400, which he secured just 4 days before the race from Neville Cutt’s Suzuki team in the West, “Grunt” as he was nicknamed won all four heats in the final, coming from well behind in the points table at the start of the day.
The 1979 series was sponsored by Pepsi, Golden Breed and TAA and run over four rounds – Broadford (VIC) 13 May, 2 Tivoli (QLD) 3 June, Clarendon (SA) 9 July and Amaroo (NSW) on 2 Sept. The only change that year was the Victorian round, with the venue switching from Wallan to Broadford.
Heading into the new season, Gunter had won two Mr. MX titles (1976 and 1977) with Gall ending Gunter’s reign in 1978. The Pepsi team mates had some classic battles throughout their careers so far and 1979 would prove to be no different – in fact even more exciting.
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Smythe wins opener at Broadford over Granqvist
Smythe got his 1979 campaign off to a great start winning the opening round at Broadford in Victoria – tying on points with Swedish expatriate Pelle Granquist on a Husqvarna, who was the reigning Australian 500cc and 250cc champion.
But Smythe was declared the winner on a countback, with the faster times and was on 50 points, with South Australian Steve Rowlands (Honda) on 39 points in third.
Reigning Mr. MX Stephen Gall was fourth on 23 points and Gunter started the series with a dismal display to finish in fifth (18) ahead of Mark Hill (VIC, Suzuki) on 15 points. Four starts, four crashes and only 21 points to his credit left Gunter in bad shape with little chance of winning his third Mr Motocross crown.
Graeme Smythe (WA, Yamaha 400) – Round 1 winner at the opening Mr. MX round for 1979 at Broadford in Victoria on equal points with Pelle Granqvist (Sweden, Husqvarna) with South Australian Steve Rowlands (Honda) in third.
Gall decisively wins Round 2 at Tivoli
Stephen Gall decisively won the second round at Tivoli (SA) on his Yamaha 400 in dusty conditions. He won three out of four heats to score 51 points, ahead of Smythe in Second (38) and Gunter in third (33).
Seventeen-year-old Victorian Mark Hill won the third heat on a 250cc Suzuki, which gave away 150ccs to many of his rivals.
Gunter had another bad round, injuring his back and looking like a dead loss for the series in fourth overall on 54 points.
1979 Stephen Gall wins Round 2 Mr MX at Tivoli QLD ahead of Graeme Smythe and Anthony Gunter
Gunter recovers form to win Clarendon round
Heading into Round 3 at Clarendon (SA), Gall was 13 points behind the series leader Graeme Smythe (88 points) and one point behind Pelle Granquist (76). Gunter was fourth overall on 54 points.
With Smythe indicating that he rode under duress in Tivoli after twisting his ankle in practice, he was expected to again challenge for the lead after his 1-2 places in the opening rounds.
But Gunter had a complete form reversal at Clarendon and shot up the leader board into third place behind Smythe and Gall with just one round remaining.
Photos: [Left] Graeme Smythe (WA, Yamaha) and Pelle Granquist (Sweden, Husqvarna) dualling at Clarendon, [Centre] local rider Darryl Willoughby (SA, Yamaha) and [Right] Clarendon round winner Anthony Gunter (NSW, Suzuki) (By Mick Dillon)
Gunter lines up on a Works Suzuki to win third title
The fourth and final round at Amaroo Park turned out to be another memorable Mr. MX finish, with any one of four riders in with a chance –Graeme Smythe (WA, Yamaha), Gall (NSW, Yamaha), and Gunter (NSW, Suzuki) and Granqvist (Sweden, Husqvarna).
WA Yamaha rider Graeme Smythe led the series right up to the final round at Amaroo Park with Gall in second. Thirteen points behind Smythe going into the final round, Gunter knew that to win the series he had the almost impossible task of needing four straight wins, which he did!
In a thrilling final in front of 8,000 people, Gunter lined up on a works Suzuki RM400, which he secured just 4 days before the race from Neville Cutt’s Suzuki team in the West. Gunter convincingly won all four races and won the Mr. MX title for the third time to etch his name in the history books and take home $5,000 in prizemoney. He finished on 171 points, just 5 points ahead of Smythe and Gall who tied for second place (166).
Up and coming junior Peter Carney was the inaugural winner of the “Kid Motocross” series which was started that year and ran in conjunction with Mr. Motocross.
It must have been a bitter pill to swallow for Smythe, and Gall, who ended up finishing equal second to miss out on the series by just 5 points in the very last race of the series!
Photos: [Top] Anthony Gunter had to win all races in the final at Amaroo Park on his Works Suzuki RM400, which he did to become the first rider to win three Mr. Motocross titles; and [Bottom] 1978 Mr. Motocross – Stephen Gall (NSW, Yamaha) finished equal second with Graeme Smythe (WA, Yamaha) in 1979.
1979 Mister Motocross Photo gallery
1979 Mr Motcoross round 1 winners at Broadford – Graeme Smythe (WA), Pelle Granquist (Sweden) and Steve Rowlands (SA).
Graeme Smythe (02, WA, Yamaha) leads Stephen Gall (NSW 1, Yamaha) in round 2 of Mr. MX at Tivoli (QLD) to extend his lead in the series.
Mike Landman (V1, Yamaha) wins the start of a Mr. Motocross round at Tivoli in 1979, with eventual series leader Anthony Gunter (NSW, 2) behind him.
{Left] 1979 Pepsi Golden Breed Mister Motocross promotional poster; and South Australian motocross legend Darryl Willoughby (16) at the start (centre) and in action (right) the middle (By Mick Dillon)
1979 Mister Motocross Final Overall Points
1979 Mr. Motocross Anthony Gunter
1. Anthony Gunter (NSW, Suzuki, 171)
2. Stephen Gall (NSW, Yamaha, 166)
3. Graeme Smythe (WA, Yamaha, 166)
4. Pelle Granqvist (Sweden, Husqvarna)
