KEY POINTS:
Marton's Cam Smith showed who was boss when he raced away with round one of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships series near Nelson on Sunday.
The Rangitikei sheep and beef farmer took his Suzuki RM-Z450 into the lead from the shotgun start and never looked back, his whoa-to-go win sending a clear message to his dirt bike rivals.
"I'm really happy to finish the day on top," said the 31-year-old, who has had a string of bad luck in recent events.
"I was sick at one round of the North Island Cross-country Championships, broke a chain at another and then suffered a flat tyre at a third event," he said. "And, to be honest, I didn't feel too flash in Nelson either. I had the flu all week."
But that didn't seem to slow him down at all. "I was riding relaxed, trying to conserve energy. I think that all the enduro events I've been doing lately have given me a good base fitness."
But, even as Smith seemed untroubled at the front, the battle behind him was furious as pre-event favourite Adam Reeves (Yamaha YZ250) gave chase.
Pahiatua's Reeves said he lost his way on the second lap, costing him valuable time.
"I missed an arrow somewhere and lost about three positions. But I quickly caught back up to the lead. Then I got stuck in a bog after choosing a bad line and Cam got away again," said Reeves.
Reeves eventually fought his way back to finish second, less than a minute behind Smith, with Te Kauwhata's Jason Moorfield (Kawasaki KX450F) third and Palmerston North's Morgan Dransfield (K" EXC300) finishing fourth.
The four-round series is sponsored this year by Suzuki and Castrol, making Smith's win on the bright yellow Suzuki just the sort of result his bosses wanted.
"The conditions were perfect," said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Murray Searle, of Palmerston North. "It was a great turnout of riders. The series is looking healthy," he said.
Expanded from A one-day event to a four-round series this season, the racing is sure to be fierce as riders now have several opportunities to mount an attack on the title. In addition, only three of the four rounds count towards the final tally, so riders can drop their worst result, ensuring the title chase will be tight.
This means Smith cannot afford to rest on his laurels with Reeves, Moorfield, Dransfield and co expected to strike back at round two, near Waipukurau on May 11.
Round three follows near Pahiatua on May 18 and, finally, the series wraps up at Ashburton on June 14.
