GNCCRacing.com: Congrats on winning your first pro-level GNCC title! What does taking home the 2018 XC2 ATV title mean to you?

Hunter Hart: It’s a huge accomplishment! I’ve been dreaming about this since my first youth race and it seemed surreal at first. It was a hard-fought win, but everything was worth it in the end!

Going back to that first youth race – how did you get started riding and racing?

I started riding at a very young age – when I was about two-and-a-half years old. I started riding thanks to my dad. He owns a motorcycle dealership, Ithaca Recreation Sports. I was there from day one, so I grew up around motorized vehicles. Even though I started riding early, I didn’t start racing our local series until I was eight. I did my first full GNCC season when I was nine years old.

What made you decide to switch from the locals to the GNCCs?

I did a local race in conjunction with the Unadilla GNCC. It didn’t go so well, but we learned that’s where the best people. We wanted to be like them, so that’s why we switched in 2009. I made a lot of improvements that year and got my first GNCC win in the 90 modified (8-11) class at a very muddy Ironman. I even managed to finish second overall that round.

Very nice! That was a really good finish for your second season racing and your first in GNCC. I take it you’re a good mud rider then?

Yeah, I’ve had some pretty good successes in the mud. At the inaugural X-Factor GNCC last year, I was actually leading the overall on the first lap. Unfortunately, I made a bad line choice on my second lap and got stuck, but it was still pretty cool.

In addition to being a good mud rider, it looks like you’re a very versatile rider – I saw you’ve dabbled in bike racing in the past in addition to the ATVs.

Yes, I have. I managed to win the 4-stroke C lites championship in 2016. Then I was second in 4-strokes B lites the next year, until I took a pretty good spill off the start. At that point in time, things in the XC2 ATV championship were getting really close, so I decided it would be best to focus all of my attention on the ATV side of things.

You finished runner-up to  Devon Feehan that year, but this season you won XC2 by a good margin. What, if anything, did you do differently this season to make that championship happen?

I changed up a couple things. First, I switched to “The Program” a training program that my friend Dominick is in charge of. Second, I changed a few of my riding techniques. Otherwise I left everything else the same.

Well, all of those changes certainly seem to be working for you! Can you take me through your 2018 season? Looks like you had a rough start, but then were able to blow through the competition with eight straight wins.

The beginning of my season was definitely rough. After we got the bugs worked out of it though, we were on a roll! I took 5th place overall, my highest overall finish of the season at Camp Coker, in addition to winning XC2 that day. Before the start of the summer break I returned with a 49 point lead, and when the series resumed I won the next two XC2 races.  After locking up the championship at Powerline Park, I moved up to XC1 for the final race at Ironman. There I managed to finish 6th in XC1 and 6th overall as well.

How did that XC1 race go? Do you plan on moving up next year?

Yes, I’m moving up next year. I raced XC1 at Ironman so I could get my feet wet. It was a blast! I had a pretty good start, even from the way outside gate pick I ended up with. I was running seventh most of the race and felt pretty comfortable there. The eventual sixth place  finish was what we were aiming for. My goal for the day was to finish somewhere in the fifth-through-seventh-place range.

Pretty strong ride for your first time on the front row! What are your plans and goals for next season?

Well, I will be with the same core group of sponsors, though I’m always looking for new people to be a part of my team for the coming season! So, if you’re interested, feel free to give me a call. As far as my goals for next season, I want to finish in the top seven every race, stay healthy all year and of course, I want to have some fun!