BADDEST OF THE BAD | Bikesportnz

There’s no rest for the wicked, or so the saying goes, and that must mean Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley is a very bad man indeed.

The Grand National Cross-country Championships (GNCC) series in the United States resumed after its mid-summer break just over a week ago – an event at which Yamaha’s Whibley had been able to again finish on the podium and therefore extend his championship lead in the premier off-road motorcycle series – but nothing major was scheduled for the Kiwi ace at the weekend and a little rest and relaxation was a definate option.

Unfortunately for Whibley’s GNCC rivals, this New Zealander is not very good at resting or relaxing.

Instead, Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) tackled a lesser event, round 11 of the Mid East Hare Scramble Championships at Hickory, in North Carolina, eventually winning the day ahead of American riders Jesse Robinson (Husaberg) and Matthew Nix (Yamaha).

“It had looked like by being a challenging event,” said Whibley.

“The track itself looked in pretty good shape with a few spots of moisture showing in the woods and the only dust was out on the couple of fast grass straights.

“I drew nearly the last pick of the start line with I think only Matthew Nix having a worse pick. I chose the very inside on the extremely short start straight, hoping that if I could get to the turn first I would be good, otherwise I would get blocked in and end up out the back.

“The game plan worked and I took the holeshot and led the way. Jesse Robinson got a good start also and soon was putting some pressure on. I handed him the lead late in the lap when I went to deep into the woods from one of the fast grassy straights and completely missed the inside line that had opened up from the earlier youth race. I’m sure Jesse was mentally rubbing his hands together.

“Anyway, he led the way to the scoring zone and then into lapped riders. We continued to push hard but it was becoming increasingly more difficult as we began running into heavy traffic. I managed to retake the lead only to gift it back when I tangled with a mix of trees and bikes. I moved back into the lead once again after Jesse and I split either side of a lapped rider down one of the faster straights.

“This time I made it stick and as we pushed through the thickest traffic into some clean air I was able to start to open a gap. As the race wore I was able to increase my lead to a safe margin. Jesse ended up with a battle on his hands for second when Mathew Nix took the position.

“Jesse fought back to reclaim second place on the last lap.”

Another Kiwi rider, Mokau’s Adrian Smith (Yamaha), having his first race in the US, suffered from brake problems, but he said he really enjoyed the racing and is looking forward to the upcoming GNCC races.

It has been a truly remarkable season for the 34-year-old Whibley.

As well as dominating every Mid East Hare Scramble race he’s entered and also leading the GNCC series, Whibley was unbeaten on his way to winning the eight-round Off Road Motorcycle and ATV (OMA) series last month.

The former Manawatu forestry worker, known affectionately in motorcycling circles as “the Axeman”, has won the OMA title every year since he first won it in 2008.

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

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