By Carly Rathmell
July 1 2003

Honda’s Leighton Haigh was dominant in the 450 class at the fourth round of the NORA Supermoto at the weekend. Blyton Raceway staged the fourth British Championship round, a combination of sandy dusty straights, added with a mixture of table-tops and jumps, was enough to test the top riders. KTM’s Ady Smith took an early lead in the first 450 race, pulling a massive 11.9 second lead over nearest rival Haigh. Leighton was determined that the other race wins would belong to him, as he headed into race two confident and raring to go. Pulling a six second lead from Husaberg rider Andy Mitchell.

Race three and another battle ensued between the two rivals of Haigh and Smith. Battling hard over the seven laps it was Haigh that got the upper hand from Smith, crossing the line three seconds ahead of Smith, Leighton was content with his second win.

Going into the final race Leighton was adamant that this win would belong to him. Fighting from the start Leighton had the race sewn up - over the eight laps he managed to grasp a 14.5 second lead over Nigel Scott on his Honda. Ady Smith crashed out in fine style whilst battling with Leighton. He was uninjured but knocked about.

Youngster Christian Iddon was missing from the line up this weekend as he was competing in Spain in the World Championships. From the ten NORA rounds it is possible to drop two, as only eight rounds count.

Come Sunday and the Open class races, after his fine display on Saturday Leighton was keen to get himself a bag full of decent results in the Open Class races. However, this wasn’t to be, as in race one Leighton came a cropper. Whilst leading the back end locked and highsided him. Landing heavily he was OK until his Honda flicked off the tyre wall and landed with force onto Leighton. He was airlifted to hospital and it was diagnosed as a broken collarbone, plus fourteen stitches in his arm and elbow.

It was Ady Smith on his KTM that took the first win, from reigning Champion Warren Steele on his 520 SMR Husqvarna and Husaberg contender Andy Mitchell. 2.5 seconds separated the three as they crossed the line. Reeling in confidence, Ady went out and did it again in race two, taking a convincing win from Nigel Scott and Andy Mitchell.

It wasn’t until race three when Steele showed his form, but it wasn’t all easy going as Ady was snapping at his heels throughout the whole race. Side by side into nearly every corner the two at the front were changing positions all the time. It was Steele that finally got the better of Smith but only by 0.2 over the line.

Come the final it was a virtual re-run of race three. A tight battle ensued between Steele and Smith, pushing each other hard over the seven laps, dicing for the battle and swapping paintwork on numerous occasions. Steele again got the slightest edge over Smith again, with only 0.2 splitting the two.

Robert Cross raced a lonely race to finish a fine third, seven seconds in front of Nigel Scott.