Damien King is taking nothing for granted.
Despite leading two of the three main championship classes in this year's Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championships, the 32-year-old former GP rider from the Waikato is not resting on his laurels.
At the halfway stage of the four-round series, the Subway Yamaha rider is two points clear at the top of the MX1 (open) class -- riding a Yamaha YZ450F -- and 14 points in front in the 125cc title chase as well, riding a YZ125.
But that's no reason to relax with round three of the nationals near Timaru this weekend and the cream of the crop from KTM, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki all breathing down his neck.
"There are still two rounds to go but I firmly believe it will come down to the final round in New Plymouth to decide where the titles go," said the man from Cambridge.
"I just need to ride fast and make no mistakes at Pleasant Point (just outside Timaru) this weekend. It doesn't mean I'll be riding conservatively, far from it.
"I've had a good four weeks of training since the last round and I'm feeling fitter and faster than ever," said the three-time former national 125cc champion.
"I really didn't do enough at round two in Hastings ... I just didn't feel great at that event. But I'm stronger now and hopefully it will get nice a rough in Timaru this weekend. That will really sort the men from the boys."
The final round of the championship is set for New Plymouth just a week later and that suits King just fine.
"That's where I grew up. In love the track there."
In the MX1 class he leads from Tauranga's Peter Broxholme (Honda), Queenstown's Scotty Columb (Suzuki) and Taupo's Nick Saunders (Kawasaki).
In the 125cc class he heads Taupo's Cameron Dillon (Honda), Gisborne's Matt Hunt (Suzuki) and Waitakere's Ethan Martens (KTM).
In the MX2 (250cc) category, Rotorua's Michael Phillips (Honda) leads from Hawera's Daryl Hurley (Suzuki) and Christchurch's Justin McDonald (Honda).
