It's all getting to be a little too predictable.
Taumarunui's Quentin Palmer continues to dominate the four-wheeled bike scene after another stunning display at the New Zealand ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) Championships in the South Island at the weekend.
Suzuki's Palmer won the main prize at the ATV nationals last season and also raced away with the ATV honours at the national TT Championships near Kuratau in July. Now he's further cemented his place on the top of the podium by winning yet another national ATV title, this time on farmland just south of Blenheim.
But it actually wasn't all easy going for the 28-year-old sheep and beef farm shepherd.
"I finished the first race of the weekend behind Rotorua's Jason Jepson, and I then knew I had a battle on my hands," said Palmer.
It was cut and thrust action between the old foes and, after four of the scheduled seven races the pair were still hard at it, the points tied with just three races to go.
Then Palmer (Suzuki LTR450) clicked into another gear, winning the final three outings to wrap up the newly-created premier title.
Meanwhile, Jepson's day went from bad to worse when his bike threw a chain and he could not finish the final race, allowing the always-threatening Lachie Columb, of Queenstown, to steal the runner-up spot.
"I stated off slowly but came right in the end. It was an excellent result because I wasn't really expecting to win," said the modest Palmer.
It was a double-whammy for Columb, who also raced in the 301-425 experts class, winning that title outright.
Suzuki's success didn't end there, either, with Rotorua's Vaughan Adams winning the veterans' class title and Christchurch's Chris Cunard winning the 750cc expert grade.
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