How about Sam Smith

[scott411]

1-1 on the weekend, wins the GP, to go with his TT title from last year,

not bad for an 18 year old, who only got on a 600 18 mths ago,

big props have to go out to Dave and Sue Cole, is this kid the next slight/crafer

[Firefight]

1-1 on the weekend, wins the GP, to go with his TT title from last year,

not bad for an 18 year old, who only got on a 600 18 mths ago,

big props have to go out to Dave and Sue Cole, is this kid the next slight/crafer


Yep, your bang on the money Scott,

saw a bloody good write up about Sam in the Franklin County news last week, good pic and story on his efforts at Teretonga..
will see if I can dig it out and add to this thread later..


F/F

[Colapop]

I was watching him ride in the Wanganui races and a couple of the others on TV1 yesterday. Fark there are some awesome riders out there! I watched him racing last season against Stroud and Co. and he more than held his own. Sam is a kid who's really going places.

[paturoa]

brief news here

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3935400a1823.html

[Firefight]

From Franklin County News, Tuesday January 16, 2007.
Sports Section.
Headline : Smith third after Levels meeting.


Glenbrook's Sam Smith sits in third place on the 600 Sports Production Class Ladder in the NZ motorcycle raodrace Cahmpionship after the weekend pasts second round at Levels raceway, Timaru.

Smith was in first place after the opening round Teretonga, Invercargill last week, a round in which he shattered the Treretonga lap record on his way to back to back wins.

His results were not quite as pronouced at the levels, but he has started the five-round series off on the right note to achive his previously stated goal of overall victory.

Two fourth placeings in the two levels races have left Smith (73.5 points) sitting behind the winner of both round two events, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs (81 points) and the dual runner -up from levels, Australian Scott Charlton (76.5).

Smiths coach and mentor is four time former nats champ Dave Cole, also from Pukekohe.

"It's all coming together nicely" Cole says.

"All the hard work is paying off and theres a good positive feeling in the team right now. "

The Championship now heads to Ruapuna, Christchurch this weekend and then takes a four week break untill the battle of the Streets meeting at Paeroa and then round four of the road race series at manfield on the 24 & 25th of Feb.
The fifth and Final round is at Pukekohe on March 10 & 11.


can,t scan the photo, will see if I can get some one to do it for me.


F/F

[motobob]

Sam is an awesome rider but he has a way to go yet before joining the ranks of Slight and co. At least he is racing in Oz which a few kiwi riders seem to bypass. He has to win races over there and beat the creme of Ausralian riders before you can place him up with the likes of Slight. Still I would love to see him in WSB or MotoGP but that is a long shot for a kiwi rider despite his talent.

[saul]

I was watching him ride in the Wanganui races and a couple of the others on TV1 yesterday. Fark there are some awesome riders out there! I watched him racing last season against Stroud and Co. and he more than held his own. Sam is a kid who's really going places.

I have never been to the races at Wanganui but after seeing that footage I have to go.:gob: :yes:

I take my hat of to all those guys muscling there bikes around there:rockon:

[gav]

What I'd like to see is a Team New Zealand entry in World Supersport, funded by the likes of Motorcycling NZ, Sangg Yong, Brother, Ricoh etc and run a 600cc bike on the world stage' Imagine a team with the likes of Dave Cole, Shaun Harris, Ray Clee etc working behind the scenes for someone like Sam Smith. R6 painted up black with the silver fern be friggen great! And to be used as a stepping stone, so the next season might see someone like Jay Lawrence on the bike, or year after K14, RG100! or Ivan.....

[Coyote]

I'm as jealous as hell

[onearmedbandit]

What I'd like to see is a Team New Zealand entry in World Supersport, funded by the likes of Motorcycling NZ, Sangg Yong, Brother, Ricoh etc and run a 600cc bike on the world stage' Imagine a team with the likes of Dave Cole, Shaun Harris, Ray Clee etc working behind the scenes for someone like Sam Smith. R6 painted up black with the silver fern be friggen great! And to be used as a stepping stone, so the next season might see someone like Jay Lawrence on the bike, or year after K14, RG100! or Ivan.....

Now that is a fucking great idea. Unfortunately a very distant one.

[R6_kid]

Now that is a fucking great idea. Unfortunately a very distant one.

so why not start the ball rolling.


I'm in awe of these young guys going so fast. Had the pleasure to ride at Taupo 'with' Ross King. Had a chat to him in the pits and he said just jump in behind me, im not going very fast at the moment so you should be able to keep up alright... took about 4 corners after a warmup lap and i couldnt see him anymore.

[onearmedbandit]

There are people in far better positions than I to 'start the ball rolling'. Like, for example, people at MNZ, Brother, Sangg Yong, Ricoh, Dave Cole, Shaun Harris, Ray Clee etc.

[SwanTiger]

Have seen Sam Smith at Puke on several occasions. Respect.

Hmm, definitely enough money floating around, especially when there are a good number of asians who go on "Gambling Trips" to the U.S. and emtpy 600 Million each into the economy in one pop.

If you want it, it is there. Find a way, and take it.

[The_Dover]

If you want it, it is there. Find a way, and take it.

kidnap a gook?

[onearmedbandit]

Already done that, although I'm letting her out of the country for 3 months. I'll get her to see if her family want to free up some of their money and invest it in NZ racing.

[Al_Ski]

Not watched any NZ racing for a couple of seasons so went to Ruapuna on sunday. Of all the riders there Sam Smith was the only one who impressed me. He looked hungry for victory (which at 18 he should) and had the talent to back it up. But theres no point in getting all excited that he's going to be NZ next geat rider until he has beaten some guys overseas. Doing the oz 600season again is the right place to go. He has youth on his side and with steady progress we may have a rider to shout about..but its a bit early just now!

[onearmedbandit]

But he's one of the few at the moment who has a damn good chance of doing it. Enough reason for a little excitment. Otherwise I agree, we'll see how he goes on the international circuit.

[Ivan]

I agree but theres a few young guys on this site and in this country who can also be international riders,

JayRacer37 from here is another top rider here
RG100!! he is a very good rider also
and K14 could as well

Also guys like Adam Chambers could also race internationally and be our next big thing

I think NewZealand has lots of riders with potential just we are so small forthese riders to make a big name for themselves

[k14]

You're forgetting yourself too ivan!

[Ivan]

im trying to be serious and if I say myself everyone will take that as a joke:gob: