GARETH BUNBY was surprised to be crowned South West Motocross Club champion this month.

Not because three years ago he suffered a shattering injury that left him fearing he would lose his left leg.

Instead, it was simply a case of not doing his sums properly.

"I didn't know anything about it," said the 19-year-old from George Nympton.

"I thought we had kept a tally of the scores throughout the season and thought someone else had won it.

"From the last event in late September to the presentation night in Paignton, I didn't realise I had won it."

That Bunby was on a bike at all is remarkable, let alone winning the club's AMX title in his first year competing against adults.

In the first race meeting he entered as a 15-year-old, Bunby came off his bike.

"Another bike landed on my leg," he said. "I had a compact fracture of my left tibia and fibia and there was a chance I was going to lose my leg."

For the rest of his life, Bunby, who celebrated his birthday on Monday, will have a pin in his leg, running from his knee to his ankle.

"I can't really feel it, except in winter, first thing in the morning when it's a bit cold," he said.

Bunby spent a year out of action recovering but once he was fit he had no hesitation in getting back on his bike and trying again.

In his first year back he finished fifth in the club's senior schoolboys section. Last year he finished second.

This year, at 18, he was competing against far more experienced adults. Riding in the AMX class in the club's winter series, Bunby took an impressive fourth place.

That gave him a boost for the summer series and after winning his first race, in Crediton, he continued to post consistently good results to take the title.

"It was a big step up," he said. "In the seniors last year they were my age group or younger.

"In AMX I'm battling with 30-year-olds who have a lot more experience than I have.

"I expected when I first started to just go out and win but you have got to put your heart and soul into it."

Next year, Bunby will have a crack at the Remedies Bar South West Championship, riding a new 2010 Kawasaki.

He said: "I would like to thank my sponsors, Ireland's Motorcycles of Barnstaple, for all their help and support over the years."