Smith Braced for Defining Moment

Smith Braced for Defining Moment

Andy McGechan

JULY 17, 2012: It could be a career-defining moment for Adrian Smith this Saturday afternoon.

That’s when the Yamaha ace from Mokau hopes to “do the double” and become a national champion in two separate codes, a feat only achieved on very rare occasions in the dirt biking world.

Smith has tasted success overseas and won national titles in New Zealand in the past too, but this weekend could be very special indeed for the 26-year-old King Country sheep and beef farmer.

He wrapped up the New Zealand Cross-country Championships near Christchurch in May, all the while racing the same 250cc four-stroke YZ250F-model bike in the parallel New Zealand Enduro Championships and winning races there too.

This Saturday is the fifth and final round of the Yamaha-sponsored national enduro championships and the BikesportNZ.com-supported rider is hot favourite to win on the forestry course just south of Taupo.

“It’s certainly going to be a big weekend for me,” said Smith.

“I just hope things go to plan. I had problems at the Tarawera 100 endurance race (just over a week ago) where I blew the clutch on my 250cc bike trying to get past a 450cc rider on the fast course.

“I guess I was pushing too hard. I got too angry with the 450cc guy holding me up in the tight stuff and then blasting me with rocks on the straights. I should have calmed down.

“I’ve won class titles at the enduro nationals in the past but never won it outright. I’m leading the points at the moment but I can take nothing for granted.

“Palmerston North’s Adam Reeves (Yamaha) and Auckland’s Mike Skinner (KTM) are close enough to take the win away from me and 2011 national enduro champion Rory Mead (Yamaha, of Wellington) is back home from the United States to do this final round. Rory could throw a spanner in the works too.

“Anything could still happen. I just need to focus on doing my job. If I ride smart, it (the title) should come to me.”

Regardless of what happens this weekend, Smith still has a busy time ahead. He will head to the United States in September to join fellow Kiwis Mead and Paul Whibley (Yamaha) in racing the final three rounds of the Grand National Cross-country Championships (GNCC).

Pahiatua’s Whibley currently leads the GNCC series in the US, six points in front of American rider Kailub Russell after nine of 13 rounds.
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