Motorsport: Champion finds it tough to retain ATV crown

It wasn't an easy weekend's racing for national All Terrain Vehicle champion Quentin Palmer but the quad bike hero did enough to get the job done at the New Zealand TT Championships near Kuratau.

The Suzuki rider won all three open class ATV races on Saturday but nearly lost his championship lead on day two when a failing steering dampener saw him struggle to hold on to his bucking 450cc quad bike.

He fought hard to finish second and third on Sunday as Amberley's Ian Ffitch took the advantage and won both those races.

A couple of lacklustre results on Saturday, however, eventually proved costly for Ffitch and he had to settle for third overall in the championship, behind Palmer and Rotorua's Jason Jepson (Yamaha).

"I enjoyed my battle with Ffitchy today," Palmer said. "I cocked up the starts and just couldn't peg him back."

Palmer, 29, also won the ATV open class TT title in 2008 and 2009.

Meanwhile, the bikes section was dominated by Taupo's Brad Groombridge, who won both the open class and the 250cc.

The 19-year-old Groombridge (Suzuki) was challenged early on in the open class races by 45-year-old veteran Mitch Rowe (Yamaha), of New Plymouth, but he eventually romped away with a string of five wins.

In the 250cc class an impressive Cam Dillon (Honda), of Taupo, came close to snatching the crown from Groombridge.

Rotorua's Scott Canham (Kawasaki) notched up a maximum five wins from five starts in the junior 14-16 years' 125cc two-stroke and 250cc four-stroke class.

Otago's Courtney Duncan (Yamaha, 13-16 years 85cc) and Taupo's Cohen Chase (Yamaha, 8-12 years 85cc) won their classes.

NZ TT CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL STANDINGS:

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.