The 18-year-old proved too classy for a strong field of local and visiting riders to win Sunday’s feature race in emphatic fashion.

Kyneton’s Alex Bolton was second, with Wyatt Fogarty third.

It was the second time in as many years a member of the Fogarty family had finished on the dais, with Wyatt’s brother Morgan finishing runner-up to Kenney in 2016.

Kenney, who rode a KTM 250 two-stroke, picked up $1000 for his victory.

The year-12 student at Sunbury Downs College said he was thrilled to be able to defend his title.

“It was really tough competition this year, I had a few people eyeing me off who were pretty quick,” Kenney said.

“I haven’t ridden in Bendigo as many times as I did last year – I did one round of the club titles but that’s about it.

“But I do like the track; it’s just down the road and the dirt is nice.

“It’s a grouse event, I love it.”

The Ravenswood Cup win capped a consistent season for Kenney, who finished second behind Morgan Fogarty for the Victorian senior title.

Fogarty did not contest the weekend’s event.

In an ominous warning to his rivals, Kenney said he planned to be back for a shot at a third-straight Ravenswood Cup in 2018.

“I’ll give it another crack,” he said.

Bendigo Motor Cycle Club spokesperson Noel Clarke believed Kenney was every chance of landing a three-peat after another accomplished performance.

“He’s flying – it seems like nothing can stop him,” he said.

“The kid is only 18 and I mean Alex Bolton, who was second, can ride – he’s no slouch.

“But Ryan seems to be in a class of his own. It’s going to take someone good to beat him next year, who it’s going to be I don’t know.”

More than 140 riders competed across the senior and junior classes, with many making the trip from Melbourne and some from southern New South Wales.

Bendigo rider Liam Andrews won the junior Ravenswood Cup on his Yamaha, ahead of club mates Zack Wright and Zeke Bertoni, who both ride under the umbrella of the event’s major sponsor Elliott Bros of Bendigo.

“We have a lot of juniors, so the racing scene around here in the next couple of years is going to take another step up,” Clarke said.

It was a good weekend for host club riders, with Peter Honebone, John Fry, Matthew O’Keefe, John Fry, Todd Canobie, Jake Pfeiffer and Jack Bayne among those to score a place in their respective classes.

Pleasingly, Clarke said there were no major injuries to report from the weekend.

“There were a lot of spectators, the weather really brought them out,” he said.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.

“I thought passing might have been a little bit of a hassle, but everyone was really good and it all worked itself.

“Really it was just a great weekend.”