Brad Groombridge (Suzuki
RM-Z250), leading the way
in the enduro nationals after
three of five rounds
I
t’s all falling into place again for Brad
Groombridge. It has already been an
incredible season for the 27-year-old
Taupo locksmith, but he celebrated
yet more dirt biking glory on May
26 when he won the third round of
five in this year’s New Zealand Enduro
Championships at Maruia, near Nelson, that
result propelling him into the series lead.
Groombridge is no stranger to winning
enduro titles, having raced his Suzuki
RM-Z250 to win the New Zealand Enduro
Championships in his “first serious
attempt” in 2016, and now he’s on
target to claim that silverware again.
He is again riding a Suzuki RM-Z250
bike – and up against riders on 300cc and
450cc machines – but he had no problem
coping with the horsepower handicap
and he also had more than enough
power to deal with the deep water and
mud that he encountered at Maruia.
“There was a lot of standing water on
the course on Saturday and I nearly
got stuck a couple of times. I just
couldn’t tell how deep the water was.
“At one stage I had water up to the seat
on the bike, but managed to pull the
bike out and kept the engine running.
Quite a few other riders had issues and
I think I had a bit of luck go my way.”
The rider who led the series after the
opening two rounds, Helensville’s Tom
Buxton, was a notable no-show on
Saturday – he’s now currently racing
overseas – and this would have eased
the pressure on Groombridge.
Also away on overseas assignments
were leading riders Dylan Yearbury, from
Cambridge, and Napier’s Mackenzie
Wiig, while Coatesville’s Sam Greenslade,
who had been third overall in the
enduro series after the first two rounds,
lasted just 10 minutes on Saturday.
“I had injured my knee a couple of weeks
back, but still thought I’d be good to
race on Saturday,” said Greenslade.
“But the pain was too much and
KIWI RIDER 83