News Release

Clean Sweep For Suzuki's Smith

16 June 2008
Nobody could touch Marton's Cam Smith in this season's New Zealand Cross-country Championships.
 
The Rangitikei sheep and beef farmer had been unbeaten in the first three rounds of this year's Suzuki-sponsored series, wrapping up the title ahead of Saturday's  fourth and final round near Ashburton.
 
But, as the rules dictate, Smith still had to put in an appearance at the South Island venue on Saturday.
 
And what an appearance that was, Smith again dominating the day to make it an incredible four in a row for the 31-year-old.
 
"I was determined to make it a clean sweep and win all four rounds," he said.
 
And that's exactly what he did, shooting into the lead on lap one and never looking back.
 
He did find himself locked in a tussle with fast-starting Tauranga rider Reece Burgess, losing his lead briefly, but then he set about the task at hand, re-took the lead and built up a winning margin.
 
"I think I was about 40 seconds in front at the end," said Smith (Suzuki RM-Z450).
 
"With Suzuki sponsoring the series, I think the company will be very happy that I won," Smith grinned.
 
Pahiatua's Adam Reeves finished runner-up on Saturday, also finishing the series as No.2 man, while Te Kauwhata's Jason Moorfield was third.
 
"It has been a perfect series for me, " said Smith. "I didn't know what to expect when going down south and I knew everyone would be out to beat me but it was a great event.
 
"It was very fast and rocky. I got a flat front tyre with about one lap to go but, by that stage, I had already built up a good lead."  
 
Although Smith had already wrapped up the overall and over-300cc four-stroke titles, the battle was still on in Ashburton for titles in the other various individual bike categories and that's where another Suzuki rider, Napier's John O'Dea, was pinning his hopes.
 
O'Dea (Suzuki RM-Z250) finished fifth overall at Ashburton, the first of the small four-stroke bikes to come home, and that was enough for him to wrap up the four-stroke under-300cc class title.
 
Smith now turns his attention to a slightly different dirt bike code when he tackles the sixth and final round of the New Zealand Enduro Championships in the Santoft Forest, near his Marton home, at the end of next month.
 
It's entirely possible for Smith to make it two national titles this season. He is just three points adrift of Reeves as the two anticipate a season-defining enduro clash in Santoft.