INTERVIEW: HARLEY HUTTON

Cast your mind back 20 years ago and Kirk Hutton was a huge name in Australian Off- Road Racing. Hutton was a multiple time AORC champion, won countless state enduro championships and represented Australia at the ISDE on many occasions. Move forward to 2024 and the Hutton name is still mentioned with regularity at AORC events as eldest son, Harley, and now youngest son Drake, continue the family tradition of not just racing, but also winning.

Harley, aged 13, is quickly climbing the ladder in enduro racing. He was the 2022 AORC J1 champion on his YZ85cc small wheel machine and then was right in the battle for the J2 championship in 2023 when an allergic reaction took him from competing at the South Australian rounds.
He has started 2024 on song winning the opening weekend of racing of the AORC at Roma. He dominated proceedings at round one and then overcome a sluggish start in round two to storm home and take another victory.

“He just loves riding,” Kirk says of Harley with a smile. “We have let him drive the amount of riding he does and the majority of the time, we have to get him off the bike and ensure he is doing his work around the house and his schoolwork. If he had his way, he would ride from dusk to dawn, seven days a week.”

Harley is part of the GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing Team, which first entered off road in 2023. He
and Marcus Nowland both focus on off road racing and the extra support given to both riders
has been a first in off road.

“It’s pretty cool to get all this support from Yamaha,” Harley beams. “When we got offered the opportunity, I still remember driving over to Yamaha and pick up all our stuff; it was so cool. “For YJR to branch out into off road and support Marcus and I have been awesome. He did well at the first round as well, so hopefully we can continue to get the wins and show how good the Yamaha’s are in off road,” Hutton ends.

And just when you thought there was no more, Drake Hutton, on the way to the Roma round,
decides he wouldn’t mind having a ride. He jumps on Harley’s practice bike and then proceeds to run riot in the J1 class. Drake now has his own YZ85, and the family are headed to Mt Misery this weekend for rounds three and four of the championship.

Looks like the Hutton name will continue in AORC for some time to come yet!