Hyvinkää Motor Club is about to have another young motocross rider to uphold the town’s motocross reputation, as 14-year-old Antti Pyrhönen secured the 80cc Finnish Cup championship, even with one round still to be ridden.
Antti Pyrhönen from Hyvinkää rode consistently to second place in both heats. The intense points tallying resulted in Antti being a sure Cup champion, even if he doesn’t start the final round 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 ridden 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. The third gear disappeared from the bike then, and I always had to shift directly from second to fourth,” Antti, who seems calm, chats.
In 80cc motocross, 12–16-year-olds compete, 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 they compete for Finnish Cup points.
Antti yearns for the saddle of a 125cc bike
However, few young 80cc riders stay in the small class until they are 16; more often, the B 125cc class awaits them after turning 14, and so it is for Antti.
“Next Sunday would be the last Finnish Cup round at Ruskeasanta, but I’m not sure if I’ll ride there, as I’m eager to get on a bigger bike already,” Antti says determinedly.
Antti has already practised a few times on a 125cc bike, and the bike fits Antti 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,” Antti says.
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 80cc riders from Hyvinkää 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 in points, is the third Hyvinkää rider, Jukka Pirinen.
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 embarking on 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.