KIWI RIDER DECEMBER 2017 VOL.1 | Page 85

GROOMBRIDGE CLOCKS UP WIN NUMBER FIVE B by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com ay of Plenty motorcycling ace Brad Groombridge has notched up yet another win at the popular annual Acerbis Four- Hour cross-country race near Taupo. The Suzuki man from Taupo was the pre-race favourite to win this popular stand-alone event again this year and he didn’t disappoint. He is now a record five-time outright winner of the marathon dirt bike race, an incredible four times now as a solo (ironman) rider. Although he admits this year’s victory was probably his hardest-fought, he took the chequered flag a solid 23 seconds ahead of main rival Paul Whibley. Third overall was the two- rider Rotorua combination of Barry Morris and Cam Negus, finishing 15 minutes further back. Groombridge had found himself stuck in traffic soon after the shot-gun blast signalled the start at 11.30am and he was faced with the mission of trying to slice through the congestion before the leaders opened up too much of a gap over him. He swiftly weaved between riders and trees in an attempt to put himself into contention for the win and, although a four-hour race is never won on the opening lap, he managed to take the lead at the start of lap two, surprising Whibley with a quick pass as they exited the pit zone. “Soon after that a lapper was ahead of me and, when I yelled at him to move over, he panicked and collided with me. Paul (Whibley) took the lead, but I soon caught back up to him,” the 27-year-old Groombridge explained. “I had trouble with my goggles fogging up and so I ditched them. I couldn’t really see that well through most of the race because I ended up doing about five of the seven laps without goggles. “It was tough trying to work out a spot where I could pass Paul without getting filled in by the dirt roost from his rear tyre. I managed to make that happen. “It’s a tough race to ride solo, but I’ve been doing a lot of riding lately to build up my fitness. I will also be racing the motocross nationals in KIWI RIDER 85