Wednesday #5Darren Smart, better known as Smarty, is/was Queensland's top off-road rider  trainer and has been around the Australian MX scene for many years.He writes a column called "Smarty’s Moto Wrap” for the Aussie website
Smarty’s been here in New Zealand before and we exchange news, views, photos, gossip etc.
We now have an agreement, via MCNews Editor Trevor Hedge, that we can exchange that info in part or in full for online purposes.
It's in PDF format and is attached as the full file at the very bottom.
Mike Metzger, the Godfather of FMX (Freestyle Motocross) was in NZ in July 2008.Better known these days for his paintings and tattoo art.Mind the Gaps Tim Gould was in San Diego for the Supercross with Devon Rogers and Luke Temple and visited Mike’s shop - Tim Gould image. 
In case you missed it here is the very cute Valentines Day card from FMF.
Talking of romance …Shaun Prescott and Natasha Cairns are engaged – congratulations guys.
Suzuki Motorcycles: New Zealand's only stock exchange listed dealer group has recorded a small drop in trading profit – on increased sales and turn over.In a letter to shareholders this week, Colonial Motor Company chairman, Jim Gibbons announced the company's result for the six months to December 2012.
Trading profit after tax of $5.7 million was down 3% on the same period in 2011, but the company says total profit for the period increased 20% to $6.5 million - hit by items such as $400,000 in deferred tax. Revenue of $298.0 million was up 11%.
The CMC Group sells and services a wide range of vehicles including Case, IH and New Holland tractors, Kenworth and DAF heavy trucks, Suzuki Motorcycles, Ford and Mazda cars plus recently acquired Nissan and Hyundai dealerships.
Patetonga's Round 2 of the MX Nats on Sunday.
If you can’t get to Patetonga tomorrow for Round 2 of the NZ Motocross Champs?Here is the link for the live timing and commentary from Neil Ritchie.
http://www.livetiming.co.nz/wsMXChampsR24.aspx
Liking the MX2 lineup plus the Aussies #10 Jay Wilson, #JD Jesse Dobson, #M Meghan Rutledge and #W Brock Winston. Jay had a run yesterday on a track that it was thought that Joel Doeksen was fast but this kid is super fast.
Plus in MX1 you have another 3 Aussies - #211 Billy Mackenzie (he's a Scotsman really but ...), #K Kirk Gibbs and #T Todd Waters.
Talking Jay Wilson, the GYTR Yamaha MXD team is back for 2013 armed with two new riders. Yamaha’s Factory supported Under 19 team will see Jay Wilson join Joel Dinsdale on board Yamaha YZ250F’s as the team chases MXD success at the MX Nationals and the Australian Supercross Championships in 2013.
The Apple does’nt fall far from the tree!
Lots of talk 'Motocross Whispers' about Harrisville and the huge accident by Steven Cunha. If you believe in miracles then you would have to say that Steven being on the long road to recovery, despite his injuries, is surely one. His brother Craig said late yesterday that he had, had a good conversation with him. That jump has been there 15 years and was better known as 'The Shitmixer' after Grant Bittle broke his ankle on it. Remember Cam Kennedy attempting to scrub it? One jump you don't scrub but Cam did and smashed himself on the steep landing ramp. Suffice to say Scott Willis has had the big bulldozer out and changed the landing.
In my www.moto-media.net/?id=2301 I mentioned that the South/West corner has been cleared out and as you climb up towards the section behind the start-gates there is a nice big berm as it sweeps up to the right. Darryll King was one that told Tony Cooksley that they loved the new options. Here is a pic that Tony got of it the day after.
Monster Energy Supercross in Texas last weekend. Checkout this bizarre crash that GEICO Honda’s Zach Bell survived.
The Board of MNZ announced (Thursday 21 Feb) it is launching an internal inquiry
While the incident is also being investigated by the Police Serious Crash Unit, the Board feels given the information it has received and comments that have been made, its own inquiry is essential.
Motorcycling New Zealand Inc. has robust rules and regulations, but it is felt under its ‘Duty of Care’ all such incidents of this level and the circumstances surrounding them, need to be investigated. Details of the scope of the inquiry will be available on request.
Moto-Media: That ‘critical’ rider was Lance Lowe and on Thursday his life support unit was turned off.Condolences to Lance’s family. RIP Lance.
It was a horror week for Motorsport in NZ with the loss of F5000 racer Stan Redmond.There is a great tribute to him on:
www.speedcafe.co.nz/2013/02/22/drivers-and-friends-pay-tribute-to-stan-redmond/
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These pics courtesy of 
into the running of the Paeroa Street Races on last Sunday 17 February, which resulted in three riders being airlifted to hospital, one of whom is still in a critical condition.