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SUZUKI’S THOMAS BATTLES THE ODDS
Against impossible odds, Suzuki star Brad Thomas may have done just enough to retain his national cross-country title.
A high-speed crash cut short the challenge of Thomas in his bid to win the fourth and final round of the New Zealand Motorcycle Cross-country Championships, south of Blenheim, on Saturday.
But, even though he lost the battle at Blenheim, the Suzuki man may learn in a few days time that he has still won the war.
Thomas (Suzuki RM250) won the title outright in 2004 and last year and had looked on target for another national crown soon after the start at the series finale near Blenheim on Saturday.
Round Two winner Thomas and Round One winner Adrian Smith (Thames) were locked in a thrilling handlebar-to-handlebar battle, comfortably leading more than 40 of the best off-road motorcycle racers in the business in the early stages of the big race at Blenheim.
But then, as the race was winding down, the 29-year-old Thomas was spat from his bike at high speed and centre-punched into the stony ground.
Even with the painful shoulder injury, Moteuka’s Thomas managed to battle to the end and still finished a remarkable second overall.
“I loved the track, it had everything in it,” said Thomas afterwards. “But I made a small mistake and went over the handlebars, flat-out in fourth gear, and hurt my shoulder. I just had to try and hang on for the final laps.
“Adrian deserved to win today. He stayed on his bike,” said Thomas.
Marton Suzuki rider Cam Smith had led the overall point’s standings as the day began but he slipped back after finishing fourth overall at Blenheim.
But Cam Smith easily won the over-300cc four-stroke class title, with Pahiatua’s Adam Reeves, on an identical Suzuki RMZ450, finishing third overall in the same class.
Te Kauwhata’s Karl McGovern (Suzuki RM125) finished runner-up to Maramarua’s Scott Bregman (Kawasaki KX125) in the under-200cc two-stroke class, while Waipukurau’s Mark Fleming (Suzuki RM-Z250) finished third overall in the under-300cc four-stroke class, just behind Norsewood’s Kevin Hermansen (Kawasaki) and New Plymouth’s Renny Johnston (Honda).
Waipukurau’s Hamish Thomas (Suzuki RM125) was runner-up to Te Kauwhata’s Sam Speedy (KTM125) in the under-21 years’ classification.
Meanwhile, it may take several weeks before the overall outright winner is determined with the organisers experiencing “technical difficulties” with the scoring system. The outright winner classification from Round Two at Mosgiel had been thrown out because of the staggered start employed there – due to the dust and visibility danger – but it may yet be decided that that round’s overall result will still count.
Thomas won easily at Mosgiel and, if those points are reinstated, he will retain the overall national title by three points. If not, Adrian Smith wins the series overall by one point.
Provisional leading overall class standings after the fourth and final round of the New Zealand Motorcycle Cross-country Championships near Blenheim on Saturday:
