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MAY 15, 2008: It's do or die time for the nation's elite motorcycle cross-country racers.
With the four-round Suzuki-sponsored New Zealand Cross-country Championship series now at the halfway stage, round three near Pahiatua this weekend has become a must-win scenario for Cam Smith's rivals.
Marton's Smith took his Suzuki RM-Z450 to victory at both rounds one and two and, with three of the four rounds to score towards the championship -- riders able to discard their one worst result -- this puts Smith in a very strong position to wrap up the title on Sunday.
If Smith wins again this weekend, he will take the title with a race to spare.
But first he has to see off the combined threats of Pahiatua ace Adam Reeves (Yamaha), Te Kauwhata's Jason Moorfield (Kawasaki), Norsewood's Kevin Hermansen (Kawasaki), Napier's John O'Dea (Suzuki), Palmerston North's Morgan Dransfield (KTM) and former national champion Adrian Smith (Awakino, Honda), among others.
Reeves has been a thorn in Smith's side at the earlier rounds but his campaign suffered a set-back when he ran out of fuel at round two near Waipukurau last weekend.
That disaster will obviously be his "discard" round but, after finishing runner-up at the series opener near Nelson last month, he can still win the crown, provided he wins on his home turf this weekend and at the final round near Ashburton on June 14.
Reeves was leading the race when he ran out of fuel at Waipukurau.
"I don't know how I got it so wrong at Waipukurau," said Reeves. "I had an after-market 12.1 litre tank fitted and that's been good for about 90 minutes of racing. I ran out after about 70 minutes on Sunday. It was a fast track in places and perhaps the bike carrying extra weight because of the mud, it sucked more gas. I don't know.
"I've just got to win the next two rounds and hope Cam (Smith) has some bad luck ... he's due for some."
While it's round three for the seniors this weekend, junior riders kick off their two-round national championship series at Pahiatua on Sunday, with Raetihi's Charles Alabaster (Yamaha) the favourite to win.
Alabaster will expect to come under fire from Otane's Kieran Scheele (KTM), Papakura's Richard Cryer (Kawasaki), Katikati's Rohan Blyde (Yamaha), Palmerston North's Jordan Wilson (Kawasaki) and Taupiri's Cam Downing (Suzuki).
Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki) is expected to dominate the 85cc class, although Cambridge's Christopher Foster (Yamaha) and Pahiatua's Thomas Fraser (Kawasaki) will keep him honest.
Both the senior and junior series wrap up at Ashburton on June 14.
