Hyvinkää Motor Club is about to have another young motocross rider uphold the town’s motocross reputation, as 14-year-old Antti Pyrhönen secured the 80cc Finnish Cup championship, even with one race still to go.
Antti Pyrhönen from Hyvinkää consistently rode to second place in both heats. The intense points tallying resulted in Antti being a sure cup champion, even if he didn’t start the final race at all.
Ville-Veikko Saarnio from Rauma, who is second in points, is 45 points behind, and since a heat win gives 20 points, Antti is already out of reach.
Rarely has anyone been as dominant in the 80cc Finnish Cup as Antti has been this season. He has won five of the eight heats raced so far, been second twice, and fifth once, even then due to technical problems.
“Yes, those races have gone quite well. The only bad result is that fifth place from Alastaro. Back then, the third gear disappeared from the bike, and I always had to shift directly from second to fourth,” says the calm-looking Antti.
In 80cc motocross, competitors are 12–16 years old, starting in the C/C class, and when they have enough so-called promotion points, they move up to the C/B class. When they achieve enough success there, they move up to the C/A class, where points for the Finnish Cup are contested.
Antti yearns for the saddle of a 125cc bike
Few young 80cc riders, however, stay in the small class until they are 16; most often, after turning 14, they move to the B 125cc class, and so it is with Antti.
“Next Sunday would be the last Finnish Cup race in Ruskeasanta, but I’m not sure if I’ll ride there, as I’m eager to get on a bigger bike already,” says Antti determinedly.
Antti has already practised a few times on a 125cc bike, and the bike fits Antti’s hands well.
“Yes, a 125cc is great to ride after an 80cc. However, I still need to learn to use the front brake better, for example, and the bike’s behaviour in general,” says Antti.
Antti has excellent riding technique and vision, but there is still a lot of practice ahead before he can reach the top of the A-class. Antti knows this too.
“In addition to riding practice, I’ve been jogging and cycling, but for next season, I need to train harder,” Antti ponders.
Antti’s friends grin that “Ana” is quite a wizard at riding a bicycle on its back wheel, so perhaps that’s where his good balance on a motorbike comes from?
Other Hyvinkää 80cc riders have also done well in the cup. Last Sunday, Antti Palmgren took his first heat win and is an excellent sixth in points. Behind Palmgren, in seventh place, is the third Hyvinkää rider, Jukka Pirinen.
The first love for the sport has not faded even after all these years
Today, Antti Pyrhönen serves as the team manager for the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP. The team is heading into its sixth season under the leadership of former GP winner Pyrhönen and team owner, former Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, aiming to bring even more success to the “Team Green” brand.