Solid Start to Smith's Cross-Country Campaign

Solid Start to Smith's Cross-Country Campaign

FEBRUARY 23, 2016: South Waikato's Adrian Smith knows it's going to be tough once again for him to stretch his national title win record to five, but he reckons he's up for it.

The record four-time former national cross-country champion had his bid for a fifth crown stymied by fellow Yamaha ace Paul Whibley last season and, although Whibley did not contest the 2016 series opener near Huntly on Sunday, it looks like Smith still has someone standing in his way this season after Taupo's Brad Groombridge won the day at Huntly's first of four rounds.

Mokau sheep and beef farmer Smith rode his Yamaha YZ250FX into second place overall on Sunday, with Coatesville's Sam Greenslade, Pahiatua's Charles Alabaster and Howick's Liam Draper rounding out the top five.

"I'm pretty happy with how I finished," said the 30-year-old Smith. "I have not been training too hard lately, so this is a good result.

"I had a very average start ... I was about 15th early on ... but I quickly moved up.

"But Brad (Groombridge) was too good for me today. He looked comfortable too. He was going fast without looking like he was trying. There are a lot of guys going at this pace this year, so It's going to be a tough season.

"Anything can happen in cross-country racing and a rider who wins round one could easily finish 15th at the next round. Plenty of times it's happened that the guy who won the first round didn't win the series. That's what happened to me last year."

"I think I can build on my result from round one."

Smith last won the New Zealand Cross-country Championships overall in 2014, and the return of Kiwi international Whibley to New Zealand after 12 years racing abroad meant Smith had a huge fight on his hands to keep his crown.

Although he had to settle for overall runner-up, Smith did win the under-300cc four-stroke class last season.

Still racing his YZ250FX, he continues to take on the riders with 350cc and 450cc bikes in the chase for overall honours, but Smith reckons his 250cc bike is more than capable of winning outright.

Rounds two, three and four of the national cross-country series will be held respectively in Mosgiel on April 3, Taranaki on April 16 and, finally, near Nelson on May 14.

Points only the best three of four rounds are counted, so riders will discard their worst result, ensuring the battle will go down to the wire.

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