Adrian Smith hoping the momentum favours him This season’s New Zealand Cross-Country Championships are finely balanced as the riders head to the South Island for the third round of four in the series this weekend, although defending champion Smith, of Mokau, and three-time former champion Adam Reeves, of Palmerston North, each have plans to tilt things their way on in the Greta Valley, near Cheviot, on Sunday. Mokau’s Smith (Blackwood Yamaha YZ250) is hoping that momentum will favour him this weekend after he convincingly won the previous round near Inglewood last month. Raglan teenager Jason Dickey won at the opening round of the series in Southland in February, with champion Smith settling for a runner-up finish, just ahead of Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny (Wilksbrooke Suzuki), while triple former champion Reeves (Sargent Yamaha YZ450F) crossed the line in fourth position. That put the heat on Smith to step up the pace and that’s exactly what he did at round two near Inglewood a month later, Smith winning the day ahead of Woodville’s Ben Exeter and Manawatu’s Reeves. Another dose of brilliance will be needed by Smith this weekend, because, in addition to Dickey, Penny, Exeter and Reeves, there are plenty of others, too, who have the pace to cause an upset. Adrian Smith: "The win at round two gave me a little bit of leeway now as we head to round three. My two results give me a narrow lead over Jason (Dickey) in the overall series standings, with Adam (Reeves) and Mark (Penny) not far behind in equal third position overall. Ben Exeter is only 18 years old and so riders like him have nearly 10 years on me, but I figure I’ve still got a few good years left in me too,” laughed the 27-year-old. Competitors will discard their one worst result however, with only three of the four rounds to count, and this means Smith still needs to perform well at the North Canterbury track on Sunday. Other riders likely to threaten on Sunday include ace Ethan Bruce (Maruia Yamaha) and Auckland’s Callan May (Kiwi Rider Yamaha YZ250F). The venue for this Sunday is at Davaar Road, Greta Valley. It will be signposted 7km North of Greta Valley on State Highway 1, North Canterbury. It is about 20 minutes’ drive from Cheviot to the race venue. The 90-minute junior race is set to kick off at 9.30am, with the three-hour senior race to start at about 11.30am. The championship wraps up in Hawke’s Bay on May 18. Copy and image courtesy of Yamaha NZ - Andy McGechan, www.bikesportnz.com |