It is three National TT titles in a row now for Taumarunui’s Quentin Palmer.
The 29 year old shepherd rides a Suzuki quad bike in his day-to-day activities on the farm but it’s on his beloved LTR 450 where he really has the most fun.
Palmer raced his way to the main title at the Bike Torque-sponsored New Zealand TT Championships near Kuratau at the weekend, comfortably winning all three of his races on Saturday and then just doing enough on Sunday to keep his main rivals at bay, eventually taking the title by three points from Rotorua’s Jason Jepson.
Palmer also won the 450cc ATV crown at the TT nationals in 2008 and 2009. He’d previously raced to wins on a 400cc model Suzuki quad.
“I enjoyed my battle with Fitchy today,” Palmer said as the dirt settled on Sunday afternoon. “I cocked up the starts on Sunday and just couldn’t peg him back.
“It was a very fast track today, but that suits me. The LTR450 has power to burn.”
Palmer’s next big outing will be at the North Island ATV Championships near Rotorua in September and then the New Zealand ATV Championships, also at a circuit near Rotorua, on Labour Weekend (October).
He is determined to defend his No.1 plate and, looking at his current form, it would be tough to bet against him.
In the over-40s ATV class, Oparau’s Ronnie De Wys led a Suzuki 1-2-3 to the podium, with Puriri’s Vaughan Adams finishing second and Napier’s Grahame Strong third.
Meanwhile, the bikes section at Kuratau was dominated by another Suzuki ace, Taupo’s Brad Groombridge. The teenager won both the open class and the 250cc class titles as well.
The 19-year-old Groombridge (Suzuki RM-Z450) was challenged early on in the open class races by Taranaki’s Mitch Rowe, but Groombridge eventually romped away with an impressive 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, who had only picked up the Suzuki RM-Z250 the day before and had had little time to get accustomed to it.
“It was important for me to win this weekend,” said Groombridge. “I have just been selected to represent New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations (in Colorado in September) and I really wanted to justify the faith being shown in me.
“I didn’t ride at Kuratau last year because I was injured, so it’s nice to come here and win two titles this year.”
In all, four of the top six riders in the prestigious open class raced Suzuki’s bullet-proof RM-Z450, with Paparaumu’s Jesse Donnelly finishing third overall, Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny taking fourth spot, and Napier’s Matt Goodgame ending the weekend in sixth.
For Further Information Contact
Simon Meade
Motorcycle Sales Manager
E simon@suzuki.co.nz
