When Neville Cutts won the Unlimited Australian Motocross title at Wanneroo in Western Australia on 7 September 1979, he won it on a works Suzuki.

In fact, it was a“one only” ride on the works Suzuki which Anthony Gunter (NSW) had ridden just a week earlier in the final round of the Mr. Motocross series.

For Cutts, who hails from Manjimup in the South West, his dream of an Australian title had finally been realized. But for Gunter it must have been a bitter pill to swallow – particularly as he came second and had to sit behind Cutts and eat his sand all day.

Gunter’s performances on that same Suzuki in the final round of Mr. Motocross at Amaroo in New South Wales were simply magnificent.

He went into the final with only one chance at winning the title – he had to win all four heats, which he did!

Gunter won the 1979 Mr. Motocross series for the third time, with Stephen Gall (NSW) and Graeme Smythe (WA) tying for second place at Amaroo, five points behind Gunter.

Smythe finished third in the Unlimited Championship at Wanneroo, behind Cutts and Gunter, with Cutts also winning the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award for taking out the Unlimited title.

Cutt’s sponsor Mortlocks Suzuki in Perth (WA) actually arranged the works Suzuki for Cutts for the 1979 National titles, but when Suzuki Australia discovered this they decided that Gunter would ride the bike in the final round of Mr Motocross.

The decision blind-sided the current Mr Motocross leader Stephen Gall, who narrowly lost his fifth title.