NOTHING BUT RESPECT | Bikesportnz

He may have missed the opening round of this season’s Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships, but that won’t deter Mokau farmer Adrian Smith from going hard and fast at the third and final round near Atiamuri this weekend.

The Yamaha ace is determined to repeat the win he achieved when dominating round two at the same venue – called The Pylons, just south of Tokoroa – when he takes to the forest course this Saturday.

And although he’s now familiar with the venue after winning there last month, he has nothing but respect for the terrain and for his rivals.

In fact, Smith knows it is a tough task he has set himself, but, if he can win again on Saturday, it’s likely he could still manage to finish the series third overall.

Smith will have to contend with title favourite Mike Skinner (KTM), of Auckland, the man who finished runner-up at both rounds one and two.

Smith will likely also have to face the rider who won the opening round in April, Chris Power (Honda), along with his equally-talented cousin, Karl Power (Honda).

Skinner leads Power by just four points heading into this weekend and, with 25 points for a win, the glory could go anywhere.

In equal third spot after two rounds are Te Awamutu’s Kevin Archer (KTM) and Auckland’s Jonathan Hill (KTM), just 12 points behind Power.

Smith is fifth overall, despite contesting just the one round, and he’s within strike range of a podium finish, just three points behind Archer and Hill.

“After missing round one, I’m not doing so well in terms of a series position,” said Smith.

“But I am using this weekend’s race as a training tool as I prepare for the Tarawera 100 cross-country endurance race and the fifth and final round of the enduro nationals. That’s what’s really important to me.”

Smith won the New Zealand Cross-country Championships earlier this season and currently leads the New Zealand Enduro Championships standings.

Regardless of whether he wins this weekend, it has already been a truly glorious season for Smith.

Meanwhile, another rider to watch this weekend will be Auckland’s Callan May, the young man racing his little Yamaha YZ125 to third overall at the previous round, humbling riders on much more powerful machinery.

The Pylons course is set out at Tirohanga Road, just one kilometre from State Highway 1 at Atiamuri.

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