Taupo’s Brad Groombridge won the final MX1 race of the 2014 New Zealand Motocross Championship on Saturday and, in so doing, he also came incredibly close to moving up one step on the series’ final podium.

In the end, the Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki Team star had to settle for third overall for the championship, a frustrating single point behind visiting Scottish star Billy MacKenzie (Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing YZ450F), while Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (the Honda Shop Racing Team CRF450) won the crown for a second consecutive season.

Cooper rode a Suzuki RM-Z450 to seal the crown last season but was on board the Honda this time around and it really didn’t seem to make much difference, Cooper scoring 289 points to beat MacKenzie’s 241 points last season (a difference between them of 48 points) and this time around Cooper finished with 287 points and MacKenzie with 236 (a difference of 51 points).

Cooper arrived at the Taupo track on Saturday with more than an entire race up his sleeve and so his eventual outright win came as no surprise, but the battle was close between Groombridge – Cooper’s replacement at Suzuki – and former Grand Prix star MacKenzie as to who would claim the runner-up spot.

When Groombridge came on strong at his home track, MacKenzie and his crew had reason to be worried.

Groombridge finished 3-2-1 in the MX1 class on Saturday, getting better as the day wore on, and his final race win was especially impressive because the sand and pumice track was at its worst after a long day of brutal racing.

But Groombridge’s fitness regime this season has proven to be his secret weapon and certainly gave him the edge he needed on Saturday.

Cooper finished 1-1-3 at Taupo and, while he had no answer for Groombridge in that final race, he’d already done enough to win the day outright anyway.

Groombridge took second spot on the podium for the day, but he also having to settle for third overall for the championship, falling shy by just one point from overtaking MacKenzie, who scored 2-9-2 results on Saturday.

“I have been hunting that race win for so long now,” said Groombridge afterwards.

“So, to finish the series like this with a win is fantastic.

“I’m off to Australia next weekend for the first round of the Australian Motocross Championships. I will be racing across the Tasman this season for Byrner Suzuki in Melbourne and SP MX.

“It’s not a factory team but the next best thing. I’m really looking forward to it.”

His boss in the Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki Team, Mount Maunganui’s former national champion Andrew Hardisty, was overjoyed with the way their Kiwi nationals campaign finished.

“I’m naturally thrilled with Brad’s second overall ranking for the day and with him finishing third in the championship too,” said Hardisty.

“His commitment in recent months to his motocross racing and to Suzuki makes Brad’s results extremely satisfying and rewarding.

“I’m thrilled to have him on the team, showcasing the brilliant RM-Z450. Sometimes it’s not always about winning, but about an individual’s journey to get to the top. I can see bigger and better things to come from Brad.”

Groombridge’s Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki team-mate, Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter, who was racing in the MX2 (250cc) class on a Suzuki RM-Z250, also came on strong at Taupo and he won the final MX2 race of the season.

Carter finished 2-4-1 in the MX2 class on Saturday, good enough to finish the day overall runner-up at Taupo, but, unfortunately for him and his Suzuki team, difficulties in the early part of the series meant he had to settle for seventh overall for the championship.

However, if the saying is true that you’re “only as good as your last race”, then the Suzuki boys are very good indeed.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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Full results can be found HERE … thanks to Nicole Bol and the MX Timing team.

Full story and more photos in your next issue of KIWI RIDER magazine.