Whibley Keeps Pace Hot

Whibley Keeps Pace Hot

by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
August 1, 2012

New Zealand’s Paul Whibley is in command of this year’s Grand National Cross-country Championships in the United States.

And, with a mid-season break in force during the brutally hot summer months in the US, Kiwi hero Whibley could be excused for taking things easy.

But that’s not the way the Yamaha ace from Pahiatua likes to do things and he showed up at a round of the MidWest Cross-country Championships series in Indiana at the weekend determined to keep himself sharp with a little extra race action.

“The extreme drought conditions in the region predictably brought some nasty dust to the track,” said Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F).

“A six-mile loop was fairly short and a good start would be important as we would be into traffic early. Although when it came time to shut ‘em down for the start, it all happened pretty quickly and I still had my bike running when they called 10 seconds.

“I rushed getting the bike to re-start and got it wrong. When the flag flew I was left on the line as the pro class engulfed turn one in powder. Once I got fired up, I quickly closed in on Steven Squire who led the way.

“The track was quite tight with a lot of switch-backs and odd turn-offs from the existing trails. Once I latched on to Steven and was able to apply some pressure, then I was able to make a pass on one of the unexpected turn-offs although the favour was returned when I overshot a turn myself.

“Mid-way through the second lap I made a pass stick and, as we had begun to learn the track and stopped blowing turns, I was able to cement my place out front.

“The battle now turned to fighting a way through traffic and the blinding cloud that was being kicked up by the constant stream of riders. Once through the C Grade classes and into some of the faster riders, there seemed to be more of a gap between riders and the odd gap where vision extended to the next turn.

“The flag come out around the two-hour mark and by that time I think most men and machines had enough dust for one day.”

With the next round of the Off-road Motorcycle and ATV Championships series set to be held this coming weekend in Indiana – and with no rain in sight – Whibley said he expects to face another dust bowl.

Whibley leads the OMA series, as he has done from the start of the season, and he has won all six rounds thus far.

The Kiwi ace is well on track to make it five consecutive OMA title wins this season and hopefully he will also add the GNCC crown to his trophy haul by the end of the year.

The next round of the series is set for Medora, Indiana, on August 5.

The tenth round of 13 in the parallel GNCC series is set for Unadilla, New York, on September 16.

Whibley is supported by Monster Energy, Sargent Yamaha in Masterton, MotoSR suspension, BikesportNZ.com, Graphic MX Creation and Yamaha New Zealand.

ENDS

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