Pelaw Main’s Rohan Tungate was the eventual winner, finishing in front of former world champion Jason Crump, with Kurri’s Mason Campton third.

International rider Smith accepted an invitation to compete in the event as a mark of respect to the hometown family and was well on his way to scoring at the very least a podium place.

Smith showed he was a force to be reckoned with by winning three of his five qualifying races and had cemented a spot in the A Final main event.

However, in his last qualifying race Smith and local teenager Karl Lawler were racing for second place when just metres from the finish line, Lawler fell right in front of Smith, resulting in Smith running over the top of Lawler and his bike.

Smith catapulted in to the air and crashed heavily on to the track surface. He sustained a serious ankle injury and had to withdraw from his spot in the A Final.

Amazingly, Lawler escaped injury.

Brothers Alan and Josh MacDonald were spurred on by the emotion of the night as tribute to their late father and both qualified for the B Final.

The last chance event was won by Tyson Nelson moving him in to the final spot of the main event. Alan MacDonald finished second and Josh MacDonald was third, but both riders were pleased with their result on such an emotional night.

It was a world-class A Final, featuring former world and Australian champion Crump, and three current state champions – Tungate (South Australian champion), Campton (Queensland) and Nelson (NSW).

As he had done in all of his qualifying heats, Crump made a lightning start in the A Final, taking the lead and he looked off and gone for the prize.

Tungate tailed Crump for the opening laps but Crump seemed certain to be on the way to an unbeaten record for the night.

But the pressure and perhaps fatigue saw Crump come right down on the track pole line and almost run on to the infield.

Tungate seized on the moment, passed Crump to take the lead and went on to victory, much to the delight of the big parochial crowd. Campton finished third and Nelson was fourth.

Organisers were very pleased with the first running of the event and it seems certain that it will become a regular part of the Kurri Speedway calendar.