Pahiatua’s Paul “The Axeman” Whibley is in the fight of his life, battling to stay in contention for Grand National Cross-country Championship (GNCC) honours in the United States this year.

Whibley (Yamaha WR450F) remains third overall after the weekend’s fourth round of 13 in the series in South Carolina, but the former Manawatu forestry worker knows he needs to start winning races if he is to catch and overtake series leader Josh Strang and retain his US crown.

Affectionately known as “The Axeman”, Whibley is locked in a fierce skirmish to defend the American title he won last year and, although he’s closing in on second place, the Kiwi hero now finds himself slipping further behind Australian Suzuki rider Strang.

Whibley has moved to within just three points of his own Yamaha team-mate, American Charlie Mullins, but he is now 45 points behind Strang.

Whibley had been as far back as 10th overall, after the opening round in Florida in March. Since then he’s clawed his way back with a succession of strong results, finishing second in Georgia, fourth in North Carolina and now third place.

“The race at the weekend itself started out pretty well,” said Whibley. “I took another holeshot but, as happened to me at the first round, Jimmy Jarrett (Kawasaki) slipped past me and led the way early in the lap.

“The dry, hard pack conditions were making passing tough and you really had to plan a move. Some sections all you could do was fall back until the dust cleared. I pushed hard late in the lap and made a pass stick on Jimmy as I took the lead.

“Then, just before the end of the lap, I hit a rock on the track and crashed into some trees, handing the lead right back. Midway through the second lap I made another challenge for the lead, in the only mud hole on the course, only to hit a hidden tree root and stall the bike.

“As I was kicking the bike into life, I watched the lead pack of riders disappear through the woods ahead of me.

“I was determined to regain lost ground and slowly moved forward through the race. I passed (Yamaha team-mate) Charlie Mullins while he was picking his bike up in the worst dust section, then caught (Australian) Glenn Kearney as we entered the pits and, with some slick pit work by the crew, I was in and out ahead of him.

“I pushed as hard as I could but I couldn’t bridge the gap to (Yamaha team-mate) Thad Duvall and Strang who were battling it out for the lead.

“Charlie (Mullins) and myself ended up racing together for the second half of the race. He seemed to make time on me in some sections and then I would pull away in others. I managed to work in a little breathing room between us on the last lap.

“I still was looking to close down on the leaders but it just wasn’t happening.

“It was a good day for the Am-Pro Yamaha Team, with Thad (Duvall) taking second, myself in third and Charlie (Mullins) coming in fourth.

“A podium was good but not the result I needed. I am disappointed with this result as it also doesn’t reflect the effort or work that myself or the Am-Pro Yamaha team has put into defending this championship. I need to eliminate the little mistakes that are costing me time.

“I’m now even more motivated and determined than ever to claw my way back into the title chase.”

Leading results, round four:

1 Josh Strang (Suzuki)

2 Thad Duvall (Yamaha)

3 Paul Whibley (Yamaha)

4 Charlie Mullins (Yamaha)

5 Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna)

Leading standings after 4 of 13 rounds:

1 Strang 120 points

2 Mullins 78

3 Whibley 75

4 Christopher Bach (KTM) 73

5 Cory Buttrick (KTM) 68

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com