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Taranaki Challenger Wows Dirt Bike Rivals

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 March 2006, 15:00 CST

By McGECHAN Andy

SPECTATORS at round one of the New Zealand Motorcycle Cross- country Championships on Sunday were muttering "Renny who?" as they watched an unfamiliar rider on a red bike challenge for the lead.

Three hours later and those same people knew the answer and were saying "Renny wow".

New Plymouth's Renny Johnston is not a household name in the world of endurance dirt bike racing, but that might be about to change after the 20-year-old's stellar performance at the nationals opener, on steep hill-country farmland near Pahiatua on Sunday.

Racing a Honda CRF250X against the bigger bikes of his better- known rivals, the Taranaki bike mechanic appeared at ease as he charged through the field to battle with two of the sport's top men, Marton's Cam Smith (Suzuki RMZ450) and Thames rider Adrian Smith (Honda CR250).

Cam Smith, the national cross-country No 6, and namesake Adrian Smith (No 10) could not shake Johnston and a further shock was in store for the dirt bike guns when Johnston took the lead, briefly, before being forced to make a pit stop for fuel.

"Yes, I held the lead at one stage, but then my helmet peak broke off and the helmet was strangling me. I had to slow down a bit. I also lost a lot of time in the pit stops. I think I need to get someone to help me with that next time."

Lack of experience, lack of horsepower and other problems aside, Johnston battled on to finish third overall and first in the under- 300cc four-stroke class, earning plenty of respect from rivals.

"I looked behind and said to myself, `Who is this guy?' Funny thing is, I know Renny and know he's a good motocross rider. But I didn't recognise him on that bike," said Cam Smith. "I'll know to watch out for him at the next round though."

Meanwhile, at the end of more than three hours of intense, high- speed racing, it came down to the final few seconds and last centimetres of track to decide the winner.

Johnston had dropped back, but the two Smiths were side by side as they came into the final paddock before the chequered flag and it came down to a thrilling 200-metre sprint, with Adrian Smith holding on for the win.

It wasn't easy for any of the 76 senior or 28 junior competitors who tackled the hard-edged ruts and hoof-holes of the farmland course with riders also having to contend with high winds that threatened to sweep them away.

"It was pretty scary at times," Adrian Smith said.

"The cross-wind along the ridges was so strong that I could not afford to get airborne for fear of being blown off the cliff.

"Every time my wheels left the ground, I'd get blown sideways a metre."

Johnston said he had so enjoyed his first taste of cross-country racing at one event last season that he had since invested in the new bike especially for this year's four-round series. "It wasn't the fastest bike out there but it went OK. I certainly enjoyed myself and it's given me a big confidence boost too."

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Source: Daily News; New Plymouth, New Zealand

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