Todd Smith bursts from the blocks

KTM’s Todd Smith has made a brilliant start to the 2010 Australasian Safari in Western Australia, blitzing the field in today’s prologue.

The New South Welshman, aiming to go one better than his second place in last year’s Safari, completed the prologue on his 530EXC in an irresistible time of 18 minutes and nine seconds (18:09), well ahead of Honda’s AJ Roberts (CRF450X, 18:28) and two-time champion Ben Grabham (530EXC, 18:32). Such was Smith's stunning pace, even a small crash during the latter stages didn't dislodge him from the top.

“It’s probably a bit harder to be first out -- there’s no tracks to follow but that’s also an advantage as I need to focus on my own navigation and will be less tempted to follow someone else’s tracks,” he said.

Roberts was happy with his first hitout in 2010, as he begins the road to redemption after being forced out of last year's event with a shoulder injury.

“Todd knows what he’s doing so it’s good to have him in front,” Roberts said. “Anything can happen over a week of racing, but I’m happy with my bike and this is an event where its as much about the natural elements as your skills or the machine.”

Defending champion Todd Smith (CRF450X), Todd’s sibling, was back in fifth after setting a time of 18:49 in the 19.34km prologue, held just outside the small town of Southern Cross through a mix of tight and twisty shrub country, rutted tracks, washaways, open gravel roads and travelling along an old farm fence line.

Local West Aussie rider Scott Strange (CRF450X, 18:45) was an excellent fourth, with positions 6-8 completed by Yamaha’s Rod Faggoter (WR450F, 18:50), Mathew Fish (530EXC, 18:53) and South Aussie Shane Diener (KTM 690 Enduro, 18:55).

A convoy of competitors and about 400 support crew, officials, media, family and friends travelled the 370km from Perth to Southern Cross for the prologue.

All 55 moto riders made it through the prologue unscathed, ahead of tomorrow’s epic opening leg – the longest of this year’s Safari.

The route will take riders from Southern Cross to Leonora, three hours’ drive north of Kalgoorlie. That’s a total of 579.34km, of which 356.79km will be made up of competitive stages.

In total, riders will have completed over 3600km when the event concludes in the coastal town of Esperance.

Check out the official Australasian Safari site for more information on the event, and click on the following link to view the provisional results and current standings after stage six.