Early series leader Tom Buxton
(KTM 350EXC-F) wasn’t in the
country to defend his series lead
surely enough to make his rivals weep.
He took a Suzuki RM-Z450 to finish fifth
in the MX1 class at the motocross nationals
in 2016 and he rode a Suzuki RM-Z250
to claim overall runner-up in the MX2
(250cc) class in the motocross nationals
earlier this season, finishing behind
Auckland’s defending champion Hamish
Harwood, but ahead of Australian visitor
and former Grand Prix racer Jay Wilson.
As well as winning the enduro crown
for the first time in 2016, Groombridge
won his first national cross-country crown
that year too, then backed that up by
defending his cross-country title in 2017.
KIWI RIDER 87