Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley was determined to get his United States cross-country campaign on track and it was a non-nonsense approach that put him top of the podium at the weekend.

The 34-year-old former Manawatu forestry worker, affectionately dubbed “The Axeman” on the motorcycling scene, won two major cross-country titles in the US last season, clinching the Grand National Cross-country Championships (GNCC) and the Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV (OMA) crown as well, and he was determined to get his 2013 season warmed up with a win.

He and his wife Katherine packed up the Yamaha YZ450F and headed off to the Palmetto motocross complex in Gaston, South Carolina, for the opening round of the Mid East XC series, an event that drew a huge turnout of more than 300 bikes and riders for the two-hour race on the sand-based course.

“With only a 13th pick of the line, I hoped it wouldn’t be a hint of the day to come. The green flag signalled the start and the YZ450F fired up quickly, giving me the holeshot.

“I swiftly opened up a lead of about 15 seconds and as we came out onto the first motocross section track I could see (Australian rival) Josh Strang in second. The gap remained the same over the first lap, but somewhere in the second lap Josh must have had some problems because my lead jumped out to about a minute.

“The track was pretty fun with the sandy soil being good practice for the upcoming opening round of the GNCC in Florida. But the number of bikes on the track created a constant stream of riders circulating and passing lapped riders was a battle when you come upon five or six at a time.”

As the race was winding down, Whibley had a minute and a half lead over former GNCC champion Strang with Japanese rider Takashi Koikeda in third position.

“The last three laps went smoothly and I managed to negotiate the ‘mobile chicanes’ (slower riders) without too much drama. Big thanks to the riders who gave the professionals plenty of room to come through while being lapped.”

The GNCC championship is again Whibley’s main order of business this season and he gets that title defence kicked off in Florida in just a few days’ time (March 12).

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

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