Smith Does the Double

Smith Does the Double

by Andy McGechan | www.BikesportNZ.com
July 23, 2012

Mokau's Adrian Smith achieved a rare double at the weekend, becoming national champion in two separate motorcycling codes in the same season.

Smith completed the job he started back in Oparau in February when he raced his way to a runner-up finish at the fifth and final round of the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships near Taupo on Saturday, that result more than enough to secure him the outright crown and earn him the under-300cc four-stroke class title as well.

Smith (Yamaha) had earlier this season also won the New Zealand Cross-country Championships, making it a truly stellar season for the King Country sheep and beef farmer.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Smith afterwards. "I didn't even do all five rounds of the enduro nationals either. I had to skip the first round because I was injured. To win the title overall without doing all the rounds ... I don't know if that's ever been done before,” he gasped.

"I started racing enduro events in 2006 and won several class titles, but now, six years later, I'm outright national champion. I'm thrilled.”

Smith now prepares for a trip to the United States, where he will join fellow Kiwis Paul Whibley, of Pahiatua, and Rory Mead, of Wellington, in racing the final three rounds of the Grand National Cross-country Championships.

Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) currently leads the GNCC championship.

Meanwhile, the various bike class winners were also decided at Taupo’s cliff-hanger final round, many of the categories going right down to the wire with Auckland’s Callan May (Yamaha YZ125) weathering a storm of attacks from rival Freddie Milford-Cottam, also of Auckland, to eventually win the under-200cc two-stroke class title.

And a third title went Yamaha’s way with Putaruru's Ryan Scherer (Yamaha YZ250F) wrapped up the intermediate under-300cc four-stroke class title.

ENDS

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