Brad's sights set on MX2

By LAURILEE McMICHAEL in Taupo
A three-week trip to Ireland to experience international motocross proved an eye-opening experience for Taupo teenager Brad Groombridge.

Groombridge, 14, rides a 85cc Kawasaki and has set his sights on competing at an international level just as home-town hero and world MX2 champion Ben Townley is doing.

Groombridge is already a national age group champion and holder of several North Island titles and the Ireland trip was to give him a taste of the international competition he will come up against in the future.

Groombridge attended three meetings - the Irish Age Group Championships, the British Age Group Championships and the Grand Prix meet at Ballykerry - where Townley was also racing.

In the first event he recorded a first, a third and a fourth placing, in the second he was 13th overall out of 70 riders and at Ballykerry he placed 13th and 16th in a field of 36.

But the youngster said he felt the motocross scene in Ireland was quite different from that he is used to in New Zealand.

One of the major differences, the rugged tracks, made things especially difficult during his races.

"They have quite different tracks ... the tracks are a lot rougher and they have ruts right up to the face of the jump," he said.

"The races are a lot longer and because the tracks are a lot rougher you have to be a lot fitter to be able to keep up with the other guys.

"You need endurance, stamina and strength to be able to go the distance."

Overall, Groombridge felt the trip had given him a grasp of what he would need to do to follow in Townley's wheeltracks to become world champion.

"It's definitely going to be tough," he said.

"I'd go over there more prepared next time.

"I'd get fitter and I'd probably take my own bits of my bike over."

Groombridge's father Stuart said although his ambitious son was satisfied with his placings he had also felt he could have done better.

However, the trip had been useful to help him gauge what he needed to do to get to world class level and give him an insight into the Grand Prix motocross scene.

In the meantime, Groombridge's next goal is the New Zealand Championships in New Plymouth next year.

There he will race the 85cc bike for the last time before stepping up to the 125cc class.