GOLDEN GUN | Bikesportnz

He rides a golden yellow Suzuki motorcycle and it is therefore perhaps appropriate that Bay of Plenty’s Brad Groombridge has the Midas touch at the moment.

The 23-year-old Taupo refrigeration engineer teamed with Hawera motocross icon Daryl Hurley to win the big annual Suzuki Six-Hour dirt bike marathon near Tokoroa in early October and he then won the premier MX1 class at the big annual Labour Weekend Motocross Extravaganza at Taupo.

Groombridge followed that with another cross-country race win, this time riding as an ironman to dominate the annual Acerbis Four-Hour race near Taupo just two weeks ago, the first time it had been done by a solo rider.

Now it’s four major wins in as many appearances recently, as Groombridge (Action Moto Suzuki RM-Z450) wrapped up the premier MX1 class at the big annual Auckland Motocross Championships at Tuakau, near Pukekohe, on Sunday.

Groombridge traded blows all day on Sunday with Waitakere’s Ethan Martens (Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing YZ450F), the two men sharing wins in the day’s first two MX1 races and lining up for the deciding third race level on points.

Martens led from the start but Groombridge dug deep, snatching the lead about halfway through the race and then stretching out his advantage to win comfortably and claim the overall victory for the day.

“Ethan (Martens) qualified faster than me. I had dislocated my shoulder at a boot camp training session at Taupo last week and so I was just taking it easy, testing out how my shoulder would hold up,” Groombridge explained.

“Fortunately, it felt okay. My shoulder felt weak but I got there in the end. I got a bit of arm pump in race one because I was nursing my shoulder.

“In the second race I was leading when I crashed just two laps from the finish. But I went on a charge and got back up and got past Ethan for the win.”

Also impressive in the MX1 class on Sunday were Atiamuri’s Dion Picard (JT Racing Kawasaki KX450F), Ohaupo’s Campbell Bailey (Valleyfresh Yamaha YZ450F), Ngatea’s Luke Temple (Kawsasaki KX450F) and Tauranga’s Royden White (Extract Visuals KTM 450)

But, one thing is for certain, if Groombridge can continue his hot form and maintain his winning momentum, he will be among the favourites to win the MX1 title when the New Zealand Motocross Championships kick off near Timaru in early February.

Groombridge is supported by Action Moto Hawera, Moto City Mt Maunganui, Bel-Ray Lubricants, Yoshimura, O’Neal Racewear, Renthal, Pirelli Tyres, Suzuki Pro Rider, Oakley, Zeta, DRC, Epic Decals, The Rock, Back In Action Physiotherapy, The Massage Clinic, Shoei, Sidi, Ethika, Performance Factory, Boot Camp Taupo, Groombridge Refrigeration, Hiflo Filtro, Dirt Rider Downunder, BikesportNZ.com and Taupo Diesel Solutions.

Meanwhile, the senior MX2 class was won by Matakohe’s Hamish Dobbyn (CMR Red Bull KTM 250), while Te Puke’s Logan Blackburn (Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing YZ125) won the senior 125cc class.

RESULTS:

Senior results are HERE

Junior results are HERE

Comments are closed.