Motorsport: Smith fizzing to go at Pukekohe

Sam Smith (left) and Dennis Charlett will likely go head-to-head. Photo / Andy MCGechan

Pukekohe motorcycle star Sam Smith wants to end the season with a flourish in his own backyard this weekend.

The Yamaha ace has his sights set on finishing on the podium in the 600cc sports production class when the Castrol New Zealand Superbike Championships wrap up at Pukekohe on Sunday afternoon.

He concedes that settling for the championships' No3 spot may not sound a very ambitious plan for a man who dominated this class so comprehensively just two seasons ago, but the 20-year-old is a realist.

After a difficult start to his campaign, Smith accepts that he has no chance of winning the title this weekend - the 2009 title is virtually already in the bag for fellow Yamaha rider Gareth Jones - but he does have a good chance of snatching away the final podium position.

Smith is currently fourth in the standings, but just three points behind the defending champion, Christchurch Suzuki rider Dennis Charlett, and the Pukekohe man figures a little home track advantage might be just the trick for him to move up on Sunday.

"I had a rocky start to the season and I've been playing catch-up, but I'm feeling very strong now," said Smith.

"My goal was to be on the podium this season, after sitting out most of last year with injury, and I'm determined to have a good showing at Pukekohe. It will be good to give myself a birthday present ... I turn 21 on Monday.

"We did some testing on the bike at Pukekohe last weekend and I'm satisfied with how I'm going. Of all the tracks we race on, I'm happiest at Pukekohe and I won the TT title there in 2006 and again in 2007, so I'm hoping for another good weekend. I'm absolutely fizzing to go."

Meanwhile, Australia's Jones, unbeaten in the class thus far this season, is a whopping 40 points ahead of Christchurch Suzuki rider Jimmy Smith (no relation to Sam) and it will take a huge upset if he is to lose his grip on the 600cc class trophy now.

Charlett is 59 points further back and very aware of the threat posed by Sam Smith nipping at his heels.

It may be a similar story in the glamour superbike class, where Australian Robbie Bugden (Suzuki) is 19 points ahead of Hamilton's Andrew Stroud (Suzuki), with dual-class rider Gareth Jones a close third and determined to move up.

The programme this weekend also includes racing in the Formula Three class, Pro Twins, 125GP bikes and sidecars, with TT titles also at stake in each of the categories.