Former Malta Grad Living His Dream

2020 Malta Graduate, Anthony Wegner, is living out one of his dreams. He is racing in the HCMA series. (High Country Motocross Association)

"Growing up, I kind of always had an interest in dirt bikes, but what really ignited the flame was the freestyle motocross show that came to town for the car show," said Wegner.

The HCMA series holds 6 different events over the spring and summer months with many different classes racing at each event.

Wegner is currently riding a 2021 Kawasaki 250 and is racing in the Open Beginner class at the events.

The first event he entered was the second HCMA event of the season at Hungry Horse.

He placed fourth in the first moto and seventh in the second moto, giving him an overall rank of sixth in the points for the day.

"For my first ever race, I don't think I did too bad. I got fourth," said Wegner. "The second run we had didn't go so smooth. I killed the bike on the gate, then started it quick and caught back up to the pack before they even got out of the hole-shot. I got by two of them there and spent the next lap catching up to the next two. The back half of the track was sloppy and the jumps were like butter and were getting rutted pretty good. I got cross-rutted when I landed and slid off the track into some trees. It took me and three others to pull the bike out. That took up a good five minutes there."

HCMA Management member Shane Pierson said, "Being this was his first race ever, he didn't do bad at all. Hungry Horse is one of the toughest tracks in our series to run, so he did very well."

At the next event in Anaconda, Wegner suffered a lower leg injury during the practice run. Unable to put too much weight on that leg, he gave it a go in the first moto and finished in tenth place. His leg worsened as the day went on and he could not race in the second moto.

Later diagnosed with a bad high ankle sprain, he had to miss the races in Great Falls, but is on pace to be back racing at the next event on June 26-27 in Kalispell.

Wegner sees himself racing in the years to come as well. "My goals in racing are to go out and have fun, keep the bike and myself functioning well enough to make it to the next race (need to work on that one), and eventually be a top A-Class competitor."

When asked if he had his winner's circle speech prepared, Wegner replied, "I'd like to thank my parents Dustin and Samantha Wegner, along with my brothers Nicholas, Dominick, and Johnny for supporting my dream in motocross. As well as my boss Beau Fast of Fastoys in Kalispell, for pushing me at the track to be faster and giving me tips to correct my mistakes."

Wegner was asked if there was anything else he would like to add, he said, "I really think it would be awesome to see a bigger interest in motocross in Malta and all around the country for that matter. It's a great way to escape from the troubles of life and there just isn't any feeling better than when that gate drops, or you finally get the nerve to clear that jump you've been looking at. So, if you've got a little money laying around, go get yourself a bike!"