Yamaha's May Stretching His Wings

Yamaha's May Stretching His Wings

by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
March 3, 2014

The 21-year-old Yamaha ace from Titirangi has won national titles in New Zealand and now the Kiwi Rider and BikesportNZ.com-backed off-road motorcycle rider has packed his helmet and boots and headed off to the United States.

"I've finished my apprenticeship as an electrician and, with that now under my belt, I figured the time was now right to see how well I'd go with my racing overseas," said May.

"I have saved up some money and will now have a crack at something that I've always wanted to do."

He will be under the wing of 35-year-old Kiwi international Paul Whibley, the fellow Yamaha rider who is a two-time former champion in the United States, having won the US Grand National Cross-country Championships (GNCC) in 2008 and again in 2012.

May will live and train with Pahiatua's Whibley, the pair based in South Carolina, and they will tackle the 2014 GNCC series, Whibley aiming for title No.3 and May going for his first.

"I don't know how I'll go but I'm determined to give it a go," said May.

"It will certainly be good training with Paul ... he's a machine.

"I don't know if my budget will stretch to doing the whole series but, if I go well, I'm sure one of the teams might be ready to step in and help me out.

"I have my return flight booked already, timed for six months' time, when my visa runs out, but you never know what might happen in that time. I hope I don't have to use that return flight ticket."

The 13-round GNCC series kicks off in Florida this weekend, (on March 9) and wraps up in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on October 26.

May is supported by Yamaha-Motor New Zealand, Kiwi Rider magazine, BikesportNZ.com, MotoSR, Golden Tyres, Fox, Graphic Creation, GYTR and Yamalube.

ENDS

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