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NATIONAL CHAMPS SORTS THE MEN FROM THE BOYS
APRIL 6, 2006: Two rounds and two winners ... the New Zealand Motorcycle Cross-Country Championships is going down to the wire.
And, at round three near Huntly this weekend, the race for line honours is set to get even tighter with all the sport's top stars set to make an appearance, offering the possibility the records will show three rounds and three winners by Sunday afternoon.
Even with just two of the endurance races left to run, it is so tight at the top of the standings that anything could still happen in the KTM and Motorex-sponsored series.
After a disappointing performance at the opening round near Pahiatua last month, defending champion Brad Thomas knew he'd have to step up or step out when Mosgiel hosted round two just three weeks later.
The man from Motueka stepped up.
Thomas (Suzuki RM250), fatigued following a harrowing ferry trip across a stormy Cook Strait, was well off the pace at a wind-swept Pahiatua and the national No.1 finished only seventh overall. But, with a blistering run at round two near Mosgiel, the 29-year-old's campaign was suddenly back on track.
Runner-up at Mosgiel was Yamaha rider Heath Howlett, the man from Ngaruwahia also claiming top position in the over-301cc four-stroke class on his WRF450 machine.
Meanwhile, the rider who won round one, Adrian Smith (Honda CR250), was a no-show at Mosgiel, the trip too much for the busy Thames dairy farmer. He has plans to make up lost ground, starting this weekend.
Smith won at Pahiatua's series opener, edging out namesake Cam Smith (Marton, Suzuki RMZ450) in a nailbiting sprint to the flag.
Adrian Smith (20) said he’d be going “hard out” to get another win under his belt.
“I’ve been doing a lot of training, including racing the national enduro championships. My enduro terrain test times have been good and that’s a strong indicator that I’m on the pace for the cross-country series, where the racing tends to be a little faster,” said Adrian Smith.
It is likely to be Smith, Smith, Howlett and Thomas near the front when the race draws to an end at Huntly on Sunday. Meanwhile, Maramarua's Scott Bregman (Kawasaki), Te Kauwhata's Sam Speedy (KTM), New Plymouth’s Renny Johnston (Honda) and Christchurch-based KTM riders Glenn Manning, Kelly Paterson and Dean Heney are also expected to run among the leaders.
Kawasaki riders lead the small bike classes with Bregman (Kawasaki KX125) finishing an astonishing third overall at Mosgiel and easily winning the under-200cc two-stroke category, while Team Green team-mate Kevin Hermansen (KX250F), from Norsewood, came home sixth overall and claimed top spot in the under-300cc four-stroke class.
The racing this Sunday is in the Matahura Valley, about 20 kilometres north-east of Huntly. Spectator entry is free.
This weekend’s race doubles as the second and final round of the junior cross-country nationals and round one winner Sam Ebbett (Palmerston North) will need to be at his sharpest to keep Shannon’s Matt Sparrow at bay.
Series sponsor Paul Ottaway, the managing director of KTM New Zealand, said that, although his riders were not among the top three at this stage, he was still thrilled to support the series.
“We've sponsored the series to help the sport and the numbers now showing up are a vindication of that. We have a passion for the sport and want it to grow,” he said.
After this weekend, the national cross-country series heads to Blenheim for the final round on Saturday, May 6.
