Australian Safari Day 6 report from Yamaha

Jacob Smith has emerged as one of just four riders that are realistically able to take victory in the 2007 Australian Safari, with the YMA Safari Team rider now over an hour ahead of the next competitor on the timesheets

Jacob Smith has emerged as one of just four riders that are realistically able to take victory in the 2007 Australian Safari, with the YMA Safari Team rider now over an hour ahead of the next competitor on the timesheets. Smith had another solid outing yesterday, consistently finishing within the top stage placings and keeping his chances alive.
His results from Stages 18 to 22 were 2nd, 4th, 6th, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

By Day 6 end, he had unfortunately dropped back to 4th outright, but the margin to Adrian Channing is only two minutes, a deficit that could easily be bridged as the rally begins its journey home to Perth. Jonah Street, who has felt the wrath of mechanical gremlins over the past few days, has proved an invaluable resource to Smith, imparting his extensive knowledge gained from experience in some of the world’s toughest rallies. Just 3 days remain, with riders heading for the mining township of Kalgoorlie today, into York tomorrow and finishing up in Forrest Place in Perth on Saturday where the 2007 winner will be crowned.

The team’s namesake Ross Mitchell is steadily moving his way back up the leaderboard, and is engaged is a strong battle with around 8 other riders within just 20 minutes of his own overall time. The reliability and performance of the WR450F has proved excellent and he is looking forward to further moves towards the top 20 placings as the event draws to a close. Casey McCoy, along with fellow international rider Jonah Street, has dropped to the back of the pack, with mechanical gremlins also creeping in to put pay to his 2007 campaign.

Top 10 bikes Day Six, Australian Safari (Provisional)
1, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 10:06:21
2, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 10:12:29
3, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 10:13:47
4, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 10:15:55
5, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 11:17:58
6, I ERCEG (WA), Honda XR650, 11:24:56
7, NORTHOVER (WA), KTM SXC 625, 11:34:30
8, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 11:38:39
9, McCULLAGH (NSW), KTM 450 EXC, 11:39:21
10, SCHWARZ (SA), KTM 660 Rally, 11:41:23