KIWIS HOG THE PODIUM | Bikesportnz

It was two Kiwis in the top three as the Grand National Cross-country (GNCC) series kicked off in Florida at the weekend.

Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley and Wellington’s Rory Mead finished first and third respectively at the gruelling series opener, sandwiching American rider Charlie Mullins on the XC1 Pro class podium.

Whibley was last year’s runner-up in the GNCC, but certainly made his intentions clear that he wanted to reclaim the No.1 spot that he previously held at the end of the 2009 season as he roared away at the start, claiming the $250 holeshot money.

Whibley, who finished a close second to Mullins in the 2011 title chase, eventually grabbed the win by just six tenths of a second. Mullins, completely exhausted, collapsed off of his bike as he crossed the finish line in second place. Fast behind them came XC2 Pro Lites winner Steward Baylor, on his KTM 250 two-stroke, with Mead fourth overall (but third in the XC1 Pro class).

Mead, who won the 2010 New Zealand Enduro Championships for Yamaha and also took his Yamaha YZ450F to win the opening round of the 2012 domestic series last month, was in impressive form in Florida but he, too, collapsed afterwards with exhaustion.

“I’ve trained really hard for this, said the 25-year-old Mead afterwards. “And all the work in the off-season helped, but it was brutal today.

“It was very physically demanding and I backed off near the end just to conserve energy and salvage a podium finish.

“The start hadn’t gone too well for me. I bumped the throttle and got off in last place. I followed Chris Bach there for a while and we made our way through the pack and guys were dropping back toward the end, so I just rode steadily.”

Mead had a fill-in role for the JG Off-road Honda team for several rounds of the GNCC last season, “dipping toes in the water” and gaining valuable experience. This year he is racing for the WMR/KTM outfit.

Whibley also remarked on the tough physical nature of the Florida event.

“Charlie (Mullins) gave me a fight all the way to the finish, but that’s what I was expecting. Everyone is doing the work and riding really well, so to get a win is good. You can’t really expect to be out front all the time like that, it’s going to make it an exciting season.”

Round two of the 2012 GNCC series heads to Washington, Georgia, on March 17 and 18 for The Maxxis General GNCC.

XC1 Pro Results:

1. Paul Whibley (YAM)

2. Charlie Mullins (KTM)

3. Rory Mead (KTM)

4. Thad DuVall (HON)

5. Chris Bach (BET)

6. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)

7. Cory Buttrick (KTM)

8. Takeshi Koikeda (KTM)

9. Jesse Groemm (KTM)

10. Garrett Edmisten (KAW)

XC2 Pro Lites Results:

1. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)

2. Jesse Robinson (HSB)

3. Glenn Kearney (HSQ)

4. Jason Thomas (HSQ)

5. Jake Korn (KTM)

6. Jedediah Haines (YAM)

7. Shane Hufford Jr. (KTM)

8. Cole Kirkpatrick (KTM)

9. Dustin Gibson (KTM)

10. Brad Bakken (YAM)

XC1 Pro Standings:

1. Paul Whibley (30)

2. Charlie Mullins (25)

3. Rory Mead (21)

4. Thad DuVall (18)

5. Chris Bach (16)

6. Jordan Ashburn (15)

7. Cory Buttrick (14)

8. Takeshi Koikeda (13)

9. Jesse Groemm (12)

10. Garrett Edmisten (11)

XC2 Pro Lites Results:

1. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)

2. Jesse Robinson (HSB)

3. Glenn Kearney (HSQ)

4. Jason Thomas (HSQ)

5. Jake Korn (KTM)

6. Jed Haines (YAM)

7. Shane Hufford Jr. (KTM)

8. Cole Kirkpatrick (KTM)

9. Dustin Gibson (KTM)

10. Brad Bakken (YAM)

XC2 Pro Lites Standings:

1. Steward Baylor Jr. (30)

2. Jesse Robinson (25)

3. Glenn Kearney (21)

4. Jason Thomas (18)

5. Jake Korn (16)

6. Jed Haines (15)

7. Shane Hufford Jr. (14)

8. Cole Kirkpatrick (13)

9. Dustin Gibson (12)

10. Brad Bakken (11)

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