Yamaha Man Goes From Strength to Strength

YAMAHA MAN GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

JULY 28, 2011: Kapiti’s Grant Simpson describes himself as a part-time builder and fulltime racer these days.

And why not? His business is booming and his racing even more so, having just secured runner-up spot in the under-300cc four-stroke Experts class in the five-round Yamaha Central Enduro Series, which wrapped up just north of Taupo on Saturday.

The 42-year-old Simpson (Yamaha YZ250F) had been a contender for the class win but he suffered his worst result of the season on Saturday, finishing 29th overall and ninth in class, as persistent rain turned the forest course near Wairakei made racing something of a lottery.

Woodville’s Ben Exeter finished 18th overall and sixth in class on Saturday to claim the class win.

“I’m my own boss, so I can give myself time off to go riding,” he laughed.

“I’ve been riding about 10 years now and doing the Yamaha Central Enduro Series for about the last six years. I won the intermediate class in 2009 and won the experts class last year, so I guess you could say it’s all coming together now.”

Outright winner on Saturday was Taupo’s Rory Mead (Yamaha YZ450F), although his commitments to racing overseas earlier in the series meant he could never really expect to win the series. Mead was absent for two of the five rounds while he was away racing in the United States.

So instead it was Wellington’s Hugh Lintott (Yamaha YZ450F) who took the overall Yamaha Central Enduro Series glory, his 12th overall and fourth in class on Saturday giving him the series title and the over-300cc four-stroke Experts class title as well.

Another Yamaha rider, Waimiha farmer Gary Powell (Yamaha WR250), won the Expert Veterans’ (over-40) class title.

ENDS

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