T
hrottles will be pinned to the stops at
the third round of four in the 2018 New
Zealand Cross-country Championships
near Taupo this weekend.
With just 12 points to separate the
top three senior riders and just seven
points to separate the lead trio in the junior ranks
after round two near Ormondville last month,
it means there’s no margin for error and the
slightest mistake could prove costly for those
seeking a podium finish to the championship.
Defending champion in the senior grade,
Taupo’s Brad Groombridge (Suzuki RM-
Z450), simply picked up where he left off last
season when he won the opening two rounds
of the 2018 series and he will again be hard
to beat this Sunday, particularly with him
racing so close to home. But Hamilton’s Phil
Goodwright (Husqvarna FX350) and Taupo’s
Nathan Tesselaar (KTM 350 XC-F) are both
within catching distance, these two men locked
together at second equal in the standings
at this halfway stage to the competition.
Napier’s Mackenzie Wiig (KTM 300XC) and
Stratford’s Josh Hunger (Husqvarna FX350) are
fourth equal and also in a mood to move up.
However, if the relentless progress of
Groombridge can’t be stalled this weekend,
then it’s likely he’ll wrap up the 2018 with a
round to spare on Sunday, earning him a third
consecutive national cross-country crown. The
multi-talented Groombridge has already tasted
remarkable success this season, competing
in a parallel but different motorbike code –
motocross. The 27-year-old Groombridge
took his Suzuki RM-Z250 to finish overall
runner-up in the 2018 New Zealand Motocross
Championships, which wrapped up at Taupo
last month, finishing behind the now three-time
consecutive champion Hamish Harwood (KTM).
Groombridge also raced his 450cc bike in the
MX1 class at the nationals this season, finishing
the series tenth overall in that category.
Despite the obviously tiring task of racing two
classes at the motocross nationals – six races –
at round three of that series near Hastings last
month, Groombridge was in total command
at round two of the cross-country nationals at
Ormondville the next day, less than 24 hours later.
66KIWI RIDER
Words & photos: Andy McGechan/bik