Suzuki pair Mark Penny and Cam Smith were nowhere to be seen at round one of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships near
But they were certainly hogging the podium at round two of the Suzuki-sponsored series near Waipukurau on Sunday.
Te Awamutu's Penny snatched the lead on the last lap at Waipukurau, the 34-year-old finishing just 10 seconds ahead of Smith to make it a classic Suzuki 1-2.
Penny had been unable to show at the
With only three of four rounds counting towards the title, Penny knew that, even missing round one, there was still a very realistic chance he could win the overall and, with his superb win at Waipukurau on Sunday, that strategy seems to falling into place.
"I didn't race at round one because it was too expensive for me to travel down south. So that means I really have to make the last three rounds count.
"I have been taking a more relaxed approach to racing in recent times and that seems to have helped too," said Penny afterwards.
Meanwhile, it was a similar zero-to-hero result for Marton's Smith.
Handicapped with an injured shoulder, the Rangitikei farmer was out of the points at the series opener, but he was on the podium at Waipukurau and is now solidly back in the hunt for the title.
The racing in
It was actually Norsewood rider Kevin Hermansen who held the lead with one lap remaining, although he had Penny (Suzuki RM-Z450) and Smith (Suzuki RM-Z450) nipping at his rear wheel, just seconds behind.
When Hermansen pitted for a vital re-fuel to see him through the final lap, Penny pounced and he held on to edge out the hard-charging Smith.
Although beaten to the chequered flag, Cam Smith was satisfied to finally get his campaign back on track.
"I had a terrible day at the first round. I just couldn't click with anything," said the 32-year-old Rangitikei farmer.
"Also, I had a very sore shoulder after a crash while riding during the week. I had tangled with some wire on the farm and was thrown over the bars at pretty high speed.
"Today was a different story, although I ran out of water in my back-pack and was getting a little dehydrated on that last lap. My brain was getting a little fuzzy and it was hard to concentrate."
Earlier in the day, Napier's Lance O'Dea (Suzuki RM-Z250) won the 90-minute junior race, this race counting as round four of the North Island Cross-country Championships, with Rotorua's Cameron Vaughan (Suzuki RM85) finishing ninth overall to win the battle for small bike honours.
The series continues at Nelson on May 23, with the fourth and final round set for Ashhurst on June 6.
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