Huge effort lands Smith in second

GOING UP: Taihape's Hayden Smith finished second in his class at the first round of the North Island Motocross Championships in Himatangi on Sunday.PHOTO/SUPPLIED 24082015WCSUPHAYDEN

Taihape's Hayden Smith had a strong Sunday at the North Island Motocross Championships at Flipp's MX Park in Himatangi, near Foxton.

Smith, a Year 9 Wanganui Collegiate student, finished second in the junior 12-14 years grade of the 125cc class.

On his KTM bike, Smith collected 64 points over the three rounds with finishes of second, third and second, while Mangakino's Maximus Purvis was the clear winner with 75 points from three straight victories.

Also in their eight rider division, Wanganui local Tom Gilligan finished fifth overall with 45 total points on his Yamaha YZ.

Smith's younger brother Corey Smith competed in the very deep 17-rider field of the 11-12 years 85cc class, and collected 34 points on his KTM bike to finish ninth overall.

Wanganui's James Rountree entered his Kawasaki KX85 in the 13-16 years' 85cc class, with his 22 points leaving him in 14th of the 16 riders.

In the headline events, Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Suzuki) scored a hat-trick of wins to dominate the MX1 class, while Rotorua's Scotty Canham (Kawasaki) won the MX2 250cc class.

Motorcycling NZ motocross commissioner Howard Lilly was pleased with the riders' response to this resurrected North Island competition. "The track conditions were perfect. It was excellent for this time of the year.

"The feedback from the riders was great and they are all looking forward to Round 2 near Hastings. I felt it was important for MNZ to have events spread through the other parts of the year.

"The major national championship events are usually staged around February and March and by having the North Island championship events in August and September, we can spread the competition a little further and a little wider."

The second and final round will be on September 20.