Taupo’s Brad Groombridge reckons he had a “pretty good” weekend at the annual New Zealand Motorcycle TT Championships near Kuratau.

Always the master of the understatement, he was perhaps bound to say that wasn’t he?

But the successful defence of both his national TT enduro class and MX1 class crowns at the Bike Torque Yamaha-sponsored weekend was even more impressive than when he collected those same two trophies at a different venue, about 15 kilometres further down the road, last season.

Groombridge won all five races from five starts in the enduro bike class, ending the championship comfortably ahead of Howick’s Liam Draper, and he posted an unbeatable score-card of 1-1-1-1-2 in an MX1 class that was laden with heavy-hitters such as last season’s runner-up Ethan Martens, former world motocross No.2 Josh Coppins, just-named 2015 Motocross of Nations New Zealand team rider Kayne Lamont and leading national superbike roadracer Sloan Frost.

Lamont finished MX1 class runner-up.

“Yeah, it was a pretty good weekend,” said Groombridge. “I think my best result was when I won the last race on Saturday. I crashed near the start and went from last place to pass everybody and take over the lead with almost a lap to go.”

Lamont was also a dual-class campaigner and he took his 250cc bike to win the all-capacities feature final race at the end of the weekend.

With a staggered start – 125cc bike riders set away first, 250cc bike riders in a second wave, about 20 seconds later, and the 450ccc bike campaigners let loose after another 20 seconds – Lamont had a timing advantage over Groombridge.

And that’s how the feature final finished, Lamont winning that stand-alone race ahead of Groombridge.

Tauranga’s Aaron Wiltshier showed consistency to win the MX2 (250cc) class title ahead of Taupo’s Cohen Chase, while Otorohanga’s Aaron King won the 125cc title ahead of Pukekohe’s Kurtis Lilly.

Other class winners at the weekend were Sarah Elwin (Taihape, women’s class); Kotemaori’s Reece Lister (junior 12-16 years’ 125cc and 14-16 years’ 250cc); Oparau’s James Scott (junior 13-16 years’ 85cc); Matamata’s Brodie Connolly (junior 8-12 years’ 85cc); Taupiri’s Mark Fuller (veterans over-50 years); Whakatane’s Darren Capill (veterans over-45 years); Motueka’s Josh Coppins (veterans over-35 years); Taupo’s Vinnie Bol (intermediates over-300cc); Morrinsville’s Shane Tunnicliffe (intermediates under-300cc); New Plymouth’s Greg Ngeru (classic bikes); Stratford’s Cameron Keegan (clubmans); Taupiri’s Zak Fuller (junior support); Christchurch’s Ian Ffitch (ATV open class); Kaiwaka’s Cullen Curtis (ATV 450cc production); Auckland’s Levi Nairn (ATV 12-16 years); Auckland’s Bill Burborough (ATV veterans over-40 years); Rotorua’s Emma Goldstone (ATV support and women).

Thanks are extended to the Tuatahi Farming Partnership and Puketapu 3A Incorporated for making the land available this year.

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

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

Check back here on www.BikesportNZ.com during this week as we bring you more words and pictures from the weekend.