KIWI RIDER 06 2018 VOL.2 | Page 22

Words & photos: Andy McGechan/bikesportnz.com ENDURO GROOMBRIDGE RECLAIMS NZ ENDURO CROWN ay of Plenty's Brad Groombridge doesn't mind if you call his style "boring", not if it means he's national champion yet again. The truth is, Groombridge's riding style is far from boring, although spectacular is not always the best way to tackle an enduro course... and the Suzuki star is certainly an expert at that. “ ...apart from setting the brake and clutch levers to his preferred angle and applying his personalised graphics, he took the stock-standard bike and absolutely smoked the competition 22 KIWI RIDER The Alpinestars-sponsored New Zealand Enduro Championships came to a thrilling conclusion with racing in the Santoft Forest, near Bulls, on Saturday, June 9, followed by the final round on farmland near Martinborough on Sunday, June 10, and on both days Groombridge was a dominant force. The 27-year-old Taupo locksmith took a brand new Suzuki RM-Z250 bike to win both days of these back- to-back rounds four and five of the 2018 nationals. And, apart from setting the brake and clutch levers to his preferred angle and applying his personalised graphics, he took the stock-standard bike and absolutely smoked the competition. >