Christchurch’s Craig Smith came good at the second round of the New Zealand Supercross Championships at the new track in Taupo on Sunday afternoon.

The Christchurch Honda rider scored a hat-trick of wins at Taupo on Sunday, rocketing from fifth to first in the Lites (250cc) class championship standings.

There are just two rounds remaining, both of them in the South Island, and Smith is now ideally placed to win the title.

The first and second-ranked riders after round one of the backflips-sponsored series in Tokoroa just over three weeks ago, Queenstown’s Scotty Columb (Suzuki) and Taupo’s Brad Groombridge (Suzuki), are both now sidelined with injury and Smith paid tribute to them.

“It’s a pity about Scotty and Brad … they are great riders and it would have been great to race them.

“I didn’t have a good night at Tokoroa and crashed in the first race. But three wins this afternoon certainly made up for that,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the next two rounds in the South Island.”

Smith now finds himself 13 points ahead of new second-placed rider Nick Saunders (Kawasaki), of Taupo, with Tauranga Honda rider Peter Broxholme another three points further back in third overall.

The next rounds is at Motueka this coming weekend with the fourth and final round near Timaru on January 15.

In the open class, Motueka’s Josh Coppins (Yamaha) improved his position at he top of the rankings and he has moved from 10 to 13 points ahead of new second-paced rider Cody Cooper (Suzuki), of Mount Maunganui. Third overall after two rounds is Christchurch’s Justin McDonald (Honda), another four points behind.

“It was a pretty easy track and I rode steadily today,” said Coppins.

“The sun was in my eyes, making it dangerous late in the afternoon, but I got the job done, so I’m happy with that.”

Meanwhile, Atiamuri’s Dion Picard (Suzuki) won all three junior 250cc races at Taupo on Sunday, elevating him from third to first place in the championship chase, 16 points ahead of Rangiora’s Micah McGoldrick (KTM), while Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke (Yamaha) finished 1-2-1 at Taupo to extend his lead in the junior 85cc class to 20 points over Pahiatua’s Scott Sowry (Kawasaki).

© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Senior Open

Pos No. Name Total points R1 R2 R3
1 2 Cody Cooper 55 15 20 20
2 6 Josh Coppins 54 20 17 17
3 201 Justin McDonald 47 17 15 15
4 338 Jesse Wiki 37 11 13 13
5 105 Michael Phillips 32 10 11 11
6 933 Jesse Donnelly 26 9 10 7
7 118 Davi Fisher 26 8 9 9
8 295 Sam Lutes 23 5 8 10
9 31 Robby Stewart 22 7 7 8
10 310 Hayden Clark 13 13 0 —
11 907 Matt Goodgame 6 6 0 —

Senior Lites

Pos No. Name Total points R1 R2 R3
1 170 Craig Smith 60 20 20 20
2 4 Nick Saunders 47 17 15 15
3 J Jackson Richardson 40 13 17 10
4 3 Peter Broxholme 39 9 13 17
5 98 Ethan Martens 33 15 11 7
6 94 Kayne Lamont 30 7 10 13
7 96 Tom Managh 29 10 8 11
8 731 Matthew Sutherland 21 6 7 8
9 808 Jayden Jessup 20 11 9 —
10 903 Liam Harnett 19 5 5 9
11 742 Aaron Smith 14 8 6 0
12 50 Isaiah McGoldrick 0 0 0 —

Junior Lites

Pos No. Name Total points R1 R2 R3
1 342 Josiah Natzke 57 20 17 20
2 3 Scott Sowry 48 11 20 17
3 912 Kurtis Lilly 47 17 15 15
4 226 Nathan Sharland 37 15 13 9
5 96 Tony Botica 34 13 11 10
6 212 Sam Guise 31 8 10 13
7 224 Xavier McBrydie 29 10 8 11
8 333 Jack Loughnane 26 9 9 8

Junior 250cc

Pos No. Name Total points R1 R2 R3
1 905 Dion Picard 60 20 20 20
2 221 Campbell King 47 13 17 17
3 146 Micah McGoldrick 43 17 15 11
4 999 Logan Blackburn 32 7 10 15
5 199 Brayden Stephens 32 9 13 10
6 719 Quade Young 31 10 8 13
7 722 Josh May 31 11 11 9
8 271 Ethan Bruce 25 8 9 8
9 721 Kent Morley 15 15 0 —

Senior Clubmans & Support

Pos No. Name Total points R1 R2 R3
1 200.. Stuart Young 60 20 20 20
2 250 Leeroy Vernegem 52 17 15 20
3 56 Tommy Dillon 45 20 10 15
4 334 Gary McFarlene 43 15 11 17
5 712 David Ashton 41 10 20 11
6 200 Emma Davis 41 11 17 13
7 774 Colin Stanley 36 13 13 10
8 505 Tony Watson 27 9 9 9
9 145 Jude Brolly 0 0 — —