Taihape rider Hayden Smith will take the slimmest points lead of all the divisions into the second round of the 2017 New Zealand Motocross Championships in Rotorua this weekend.
In the 125cc class, the KTM rider Smith scrapped over race wins with Karaka's Kurtis Lilly (Husqvarna) at the first roundin Timaru on February 4-5.
There is just three points to separate leader Smith from runner-up Lilly, while Nelson's Hayden Wilkinson (Yamaha) is third overall, 14 points further back.
The competition next heads to Palmerston North for round three on March 12, with the fourth and final round set for Taupo on March 25.
Points: 1. Hayden Smith (Taihape, KTM) 72; 2. Kurtis Lilly (Karaka, Husqvarna) 69; 3. Hayden Wilkinson (Nelson, Yamaha) 55; 4. Dan Bell (Levin, KTM) 54; 5. Hamish Macdonald (Christchurch, Yamaha) 48.
