KEY POINTS:
It's two down and two to go for Marton's Cam Smith.
The 31-year-old Rangitikei sheep and beef farmer rocketed off to another comfortable win at the second of four rounds of this year's New Zealand Cross-Country Championships near Waipukurau on Sunday.
He took his Suzuki RM-Z450 to victory at round one of the series near Nelson last month and looked set to give a carbon copy performance when he led from the shotgun start on the hilly central Hawke's Bay farmland course at the weekend.
As happened at the Nelson round, it was Pahiatua's Adam Reeves (Yamaha YZ250) who threatened most, while a fierce battle raged behind the lead pair between Te Kauwhata's Jason Moorfield (Kawasaki KX450F) and Norsewood's Kevin Hermansen (Kawasaki KX250F).
Reeves snatched the lead on lap three of the three-hour marathon and looked to build his advantage even further when Smith pitted for fuel. But Reeves' decision not to re-fill his tank proved costly as he ran out of petrol near the end of lap four.
With the pressure off, Smith was able to cruise to a win by more than three minutes from Moorfield and Hermansen was third, just eight seconds further back. Fourth was Tauranga's Reece Burgess (KTM 450 EXC), another three minutes behind.
"I saw that Adam (Reeves) had run out of gas, so I cruised a bit," said Smith. "But I forgot the Kawasaki boys were still there and they did catch up. I did just what I needed to do to take the win. Thankfully, it was comfortable in the end.
"Round three is next weekend but I can't take anything for granted."
Te Kauwhata's Luke Ramsey (Kawasaki KX125) finished 11th overall and was first of the small bike riders, winning the under-200cc two-stroke category.
The championship has been expanded this season from a one-day event to a four-round series and, with only three of the four rounds counting towards the title, it means the remaining two events are crucial to the final outcome.
Even with two wins under his belt, Smith cannot afford to take it easy as it is mathematically possible for Reeves - who was runner-up in Nelson - to steal the crown if he wins round three, near Pahiatua next weekend, and the Ashburton finale on June 14.
Junior riders had their own separate competition at Waipukurau on Sunday. Their 90-minute race counting as round four of the North Island Cross-Country Championships and doubled as a qualifier for the national series, which kicks off at Pahiatua next weekend.
Raetihi's Charles Alabaster (Yamaha YZ250F) led the junior race, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Otane's Kieran Scheele (KTM), with Papakura's Richard Cryer (Kawasaki KX125) third.
Best of the small bike riders in the race was Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki KX85), sixth overall but winner of the two-stroke under-125cc class.
* LEADING RESULTS
Overall standings after round two of the four-round NZ Cross-Country Championships:
1. Cam Smith (Marton, Suzuki) 50 points (maximum).
2. Jason Moorfield (Te Kauwhata, Kawasaki) 42.
3. Kevin Hermansen (Norsewood, Kawasaki) 38.
4. John O'Dea (Napier, Suzuki) 32.
5. Morgan Dransfield (Palmerston North, KTM) 28.
Overall standings after round four of the North Island Junior Cross-Country Championships:
1. Charles Alabaster (Raetihi, Yamaha) 100 points (maximum).
2. Richard Cryer (Papakura, Kawasaki) 64.
3. Rohan Blyde (Katikati, Yamaha) 62.
4. Jordan Wilson (Kawasaki, Feilding) 57.
5. Cam Downing (Taupiri, Suzuki) 54.
