JULY 30, 2019: The New Zealand Grand National Cross-country Championships are off to a roaring start and the series
creator could not be happier.
Taikorea's Paul Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) was comfortable winner of the first round of five in this year's NZGNCC Series
in the Woodhill Forest on Sunday, crossing the finish line eight minutes ahead of the next best rider, Whanganui's Seth
Reardon, (Yamaha YZ250FX), making it a Yamaha 1-2 finish, while Tokoroa's Jake Wightman (KTM 250XC-F) claimed the third
podium spot.
The NZGNCC Series – not to be confused with the GNCC Series in the United States or with the separate New Zealand
Cross-country Championships held earlier this year – is actually a rebranding of the popular NZXC Series that Whibley
himself created when he retired from fulltime international racing and settled back at his Manawatu base at the end of
2014.
The now 41-year-old Whibley became New Zealand Cross-country Champion at his first attempt in 2015, but he has had
plenty more on his hands in more recent years as he puts back into the sport he loves, running coaching clinics and, of
course, overseeing his new series.
The NZGNCC series "cherry picks" from other established competitions, taking the best of the bunch to compile its own
five-round series and Sunday's race was also round two of the Woodhill Two-Man series, with only the "ironman" (solo)
riders eligible for NZGNCC points.
Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) found himself on the third row of the starting grid at Woodhill on Sunday, but he quickly moved
away from the bunch and caught the riders who'd been in the starting row ahead of him.
"I was passing plenty of riders but I never really knew if I was leading at any stage or not, because other riders near
me on the track might have been solo riders or part of two-man teams and it was only the solo riders I needed to worry
about."
He should not have been concerned because, when the chequered flag flew at the end of the three hours, he was outright
winner, with other solo riders Reardon and Wightman the next best, while fourth overall was Rotorua's two-rider combo of
Barry Morris and Cam Negus (Yamaha YZ250F), the first of the two-man teams.
"I did not push too hard all day," said Whibley. "I wanted to concentrate on riding smooth. There was a lot of
second-gear riding and tough to find a rhythm.
"I was surprised I held on as well as I did because my fitness is not at its peak. I plan on doing a bit more riding
between now and round two.
"I probably won't be contesting every round myself this year," Whibley confirmed. "I'll be too busy organising things,
especially round three in September, which is in my own backyard at Taikorea (just outside Palmerston North)."
Whibley is supported by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, PWR Yamaha, Arai, TCX, Oakley, G2, Asterisk, MotoSR, Vortex Ignitions,
EC3D, Bush Riders MCC, Rosscos Start Up Services, Dirt Guide, Tire Balls, Renthal, BikesportNZ.com, CarbSport, FMF,
Michelin, Yamalube CV4 GYTR, IMS O'Neal, Rekluse, Workshop Graphics and Motomuck.
2019 NZGNCC CALENDAR:
Rnd 1: July 28 (in conjunction with Woodhill Two-Man)
Rnd 2: August 24 (in conjunction with Tokoroa Dirt Guide)
Rnd 3: September 29 (Taikorea 500)
Rnd 4: November 9 (Matata)
Rnd 5: December 1 (in conjunction with Dead Toad XC race)