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PALMER MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW
Taumarunui’s Quentin Palmer (Suzuki), who won his third consecutive title at the New Zealand TT Championships near Kuratau at the weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
JULY 5, 2010: It wasn’t an easy weekend’s racing for national All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) champion Quentin Palmer but the quad bike hero did enough to get the job done at the New Zealand TT Championships near Kuratau.
He won all three open class ATV races on Saturday but nearly lost his lead on day two when a failing steering dampener saw him struggle to hold on to his 450cc quad bike and he struggled to finish second and third on Sunday as Amberley’s Ian Ffitch took advantage and won both the races.
A couple of lacklustre results on Saturday, however, proved costly for Ffitch and he had to settle for third overall in the championship, behind Palmer and Rotorua’s Jason Jepson.
“I enjoyed my battle with Ffitchy today,” Palmer said as the dirt settled on Sunday afternoon. “I cocked up the starts and just couldn’t peg him back.”
Palmer also won the ATV open class TT title in 2008 and 2009.
Meanwhile, the bikes section was dominated by Hawera's Brad Groombridge, who won both the open class and the 250cc class as well.
The 19-year-old Groombridge was challenged early on in the open class races by 45-year-old veteran Mitch Rowe, of New Plymouth, but he eventually romped away with an unbeaten string of five wins.
It was closer action in the 250cc class with an impressive Cam Dillon, of Taupo, coming very close to snatching the 250cc crown from Groombridge.
Rotorua’s Scott Canham, Otago’s Courtney Duncan and Taupo’s Cohen Chase were the best of the juniors.
Leading final standings from the New Zealand TT Championships near Kuratau at the weekend:
Quads:
ATV open class: 1. Quentin Palmer (Taumarunui) 117 points; 2. Jason Jepson (Rotorua) 104; 3. Ian Ffitch (Amberley) 102.
ATV 40-plus 0-700cc: 1. Ronnie De Wys (Oparau) 119 points; 2. Vaughan Adams (Puriri) 114; 3. Grahame Strong (Napier) 97.
ATV juniors: 1. Brett Wilson (Owhango) 107 points; 2. Daniel Bell (Auckland) 106; 3. Andrew Vincent (Auckland) 100.
Motorcycles:
Senior open class bikes: 1. Brad Groombridge (Hawera) 125 points; 2. Mitch Rowe (New Plymouth) 106; 3. Jesse Donnelly (Paraparaumu) 95.
Senior 201-250cc two-stroke & 250cc four-stroke: 1. Brad Groombridge (Hawera) 112 points; 2. Cam Dillon (Taupo) 110; 3. Mason Wilkie (Masterton) 107.
Senior under-200cc two-stroke: 1. James Ainsworth (Auckland) 117 points; 2. Ryan Thompson (Te Awamutu) 116; 3. Callum Moore (Featherston) 102.
Veterans over-35 years: 1. Toby Summers (Auckland) 125 points; 2. Brent Neil (Turangi) 108; 3. Ben Gordon (Mangakino) 91.
Veterans over-40 years: 1. Mitch Rowe (New Plymouth) 125 points; 2. John Penny (Taupo) 108; 3. Glenn Clarke (Taupo) 96.
Junior 14-16 years 125cc two-stroke & 250cc four-stroke: 1. Scott Canham (Rotorua) 125 points; 2. Callum Moore (Featherston) 98; 3. Ryan Thompson (Te Awamutu) 95.
Junior 13-16 years 85cc: 1. Courtney Duncan (Otago) 118 points; 2. Hadleigh Knight (Taupo) 111; 3. Josh Holmes (New Plymouth) 102.
Junior 8-12 years 85cc: 1. Cohen Chase (Taupo) 125 points; 2. Wyatt Chase (Taupo) 108; 3. Sam Cuthbertson (Dunedin) 98.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com <http://www.bikesportnz.com/>
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