Toowoomba’s Hunter Corney starts down path to MotoGP glory

10-year-old motorcycle racer Hunter Corney packs a lot of belief and confidence into his small frame and he’ll need it all when he faces Australia and New Zealand’s best riders in the Oceania Cup

Toowoomba’s Hunter Corney will debut in the 2022 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup next month. Picture: Kevin Farmer

HUNTER Corney is a polite, softly spoken 10-year-old with a need for speed.

By the time he suits up in the first round of the 2022 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup in February, Hunter will be 11, the minimum age for the competition which will feature some of Australia and New Zealand’s best young talent.

Hunter will give away size and experience to his older rivals, but he has a wealth of confidence and belief on his side.

“I’m really excited,” Hunter said.

“I love racing, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Now in its fourth year, the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) is officially recognised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), FIM Oceania and recognised by Dorna Sports sl and forms part of the Road to MotoGP program.

Riders involved in the OJC have gone on to enjoy success in other major competitions, including the Asia Talent Cup, Red Bull Rookies Cup, European Talent Cup and the Moto3 Junior World Cup.

One of nine riders making their debut in the OJC this year, Hunter will race a Yamaha R15.

All 20 riders are supplied with the same race-prepped bike, riding leathers, helmets, boots and gloves with the only variation being riders can choose the colour of their helmets.

“The only difference between us is the number on the front of the bike,” Hunter said. “I’m pretty confident I can do well in the competition.

“Racing fast is all about confidence and believing in yourself. And you need to enjoy it.”

The Yamaha R15 riders use in the OJC is a “floor model” with minor modifications, and when Hunter heads to Philip Island later this month for official OJC test days he will be well prepared.

Hunter travels to Ipswich twice a week for practice and spends a weekend in Gympie practising once every month.

“I practise in 15 minutes sessions from 5.30pm to about 9.30pm at Queensland Raceway twice a week,” he said.

“And I go to Gympie sometimes for two days each month.

“It’s a lot of practice, but practising is important.”

Hunter hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps but down a slightly different path.

Hunter’s dad Jason was a MotoGP mechanic and Hunter would one day like to race in the world’s top competition.

“It’d be pretty cool to race MotoGP one day,” he said.

Official pre-season testing takes place on January 27 and 28 ahead of round one at Philip Island one month later. Warwick’s Morgan Park Raceway will host a round on the OJC from August 5-7. Every round of the OJC features alongside rounds of the Australian Superbike Championship.