Hunter Brooks’ transition to the bigger bikes has gone well.
Now, he’s looking to go even bigger.
The 13-year-old Brooks won the national title in the 201-250cc class in the Suzuki AMA Dirt Track Amateur Grand Nationals in Du Quoin, Ill. on July 1-6. He also placed second in the 250 DTX class and fourth in the 250 modified.
Next year, Brooks plans on making another leap to 450.
“Our goal was at least a top-three finish in all three classes and we achieved that in two of them and won a national championship, so I’m real happy with how we finished,” Brooks said.
Last year, Brooks dominated the 12-15 age group in sweeping the 85cc DTX and modified races. He expected stiffer competition in this go-around.
“There are some kids who had at least a year on me (on 250cc bikes), but I was a little more nervous racing on the bigger tracks,” he said. “The competition is always stiff, but last year there weren’t a lot of other kids in my class. It was a lot tougher this year and it definitely kept me on my toes the whole week.”
Brooks opened the 201-250cc competition with a runner-up finish but won the next two to earn the title. He nearly garnered another in 250 DTX but was nipped by eventual champion Dallas Daniels from Illinois.
“I got off to a good start and was leading for a while,” Brooks said. “In the end I was able to stay with him but I didn’t have enough room to pass him, but I was glad to come home with a second.”
In all, Brooks returned with 11 plaques for top-three finishes in individual races, his first- and second-place trophies to go with the national No. 1 plate for winning the 201-250cc. After four days of racing, Brooks didn’t wait long to hop back on the bike. Last weekend he was in King City for another competition.
“The travel doesn’t bother me; my dad does all the driving and I just sleep,” he said. “Anytime I can get on my bike it’s a great time. It’s what I love to do and I’m happy to do it.”