WITH A RACE TO SPARE | Bikesportnz

Mokau’s Adrian Smith is now back-to-back winner of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships, and he’s wrapped it up for 2013 with a race to spare.

The sheep and beef farmer, whose farm and practice area is in the middle of the rugged Awakino Gorge, took his Yamaha YZ250 to win the third round of four in this season’s KTM-sponsored National series near a rain-lashed Cheviot on Sunday and, with that, he successfully defended the title he won last season.

Smith finished runner-up at round one near Te Anau in February and then won round two near Inglewood last month. With only three of the four rounds to be counted towards the championship, his 2-1-1 results are easily enough for him to seal the title.

Smith had previously won the national cross-country title in 2006, this season’s win therefore making it three New Zealand cross-country crowns for the 27-year-old. Smith also won the national enduro championships last season and his defence of that title is still ongoing.

“I was lucky though,” admitted the modest Smith afterwards.

Maruia rider Ethan Bruce (Yamaha YZ250), in his first year out of the junior ranks, was convincingly winning the muddy three-hour race when he snagged a tree branch and this caused his throttle to jam on. Bruce crashed immediately afterwards, although he recovered to finish the race third overall, just behind Morrinsville’s Simon Lansdaal (Husqvarna TCX250) and ahead of Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny (Suzuki RM-X450) and Onewhero’s Jim Orton (KTM 450 EXC).

“I managed to holeshot the race but I had to pit every lap and that cost me the lead. I dropped back to about sixth, behind Ethan Bruce, Simon Lansdaal, Mark Penny, Matthew Quirke (of Raglan) and Jim Orton.

“Once I had fresh goggles I pushed hard to get back past Orton, Quirke and Penny but then I lost my brakes. I think I over-cooked them because the brake pads were worn right down.”

The lead changed a lot during the race. Woodville’s Ben Exeter (KTM 350 XCF) led at one stage, but he crashed into a stand of trees, while round one winner Jason Dickey (Kawasaki KX250F), of Raglan, drowned his bike in a creek.

“I’m pretty stoked to win the championship with a round to spare,” said BikesportNZ.com rider Smith. “I have been the only rider to get onto the podium at each round so far and I guess that shows consistency really does count.”

The 90-minute junior race, held earlier in the day, was won by Pukekohe’s Isaac Clark (Suzuki), with Marton’s James Galpin (Husaberg) second and Eketahuna’s Charlie Richardson (KTM) third overall.

The fourth and final round of the series is set for Central Hawke’s Bay on May 18.

“I will still be pushing hard for the win at the final round even though I don’t need to,” said Smith. “I always race to win. It just means the pressure is off for me now.”

With his back-to-back title wins, Smith has managed to extend the winning run for the Yamaha brand to five crowns in a row – with Palmerston North’s Adam Reeves taking his Yamaha YZ450F to win it for three consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2011.

Smith is supported by Michelin tyres, MotoSR suspension, BikesportNZ.com, Workshop Graphics and Yamaha Motor New Zealand.

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