It’s been one heck of a ride, but now Kiwi international Paul Whibley is packing his bags and heading home to stay.

With a dozen years of sleeping in motor homes and travelling the world to race off-road motorcycles, competing in the World Enduro Championships and then the Grand National Cross-country Championships (GNCC) in the United States – where he twice won the title outright, in 2009 and 2012 – the former forestry worker the bike world affectionately calls as “The Axeman” is ready to settle down.

The decision was not easy and not anticipated by the Yamaha ace even a year ago, but Whibley believes it’s time that he, his wife Katherine and their nine-month-old son Colton enter a different phase of their lives.

“I never thought I’d end up where we stand today, 12 years down the track with two GNCC and six OMA (Off-road Motorcycle and ATV) Championships to my credit,” said the 36-year-old Whibley.

“I had one perfect OMA season and 17 consecutive wins, and one perfect GNCC hole-shot season, and these are some of the achievements that I’m pretty proud of.

“It’s a tough call to make, though, and one I have wrestled with for a while now, but I know it’s time for us to head back to New Zealand.

“I will miss being a professional racer and going to all the races. But I will miss even more the friends we have made along the way and our family at the Am Pro Yamaha team.

“We have met some great people along the way and made lifelong friends. We’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from many of the sport’s greats from all over the world. We have seen a lot and experienced even more.

“The support from fans has been amazing. We have been welcomed and accepted as if we were one of their own, which makes it even harder to leave. And it all would not have been possible without the great sponsors, many have been with us for the long haul and become as much friend as sponsors … so a huge thanks to all.

“The future is a little uncertain at this stage, but I welcome the blank canvas to start to paint the next portrait of my life,” he said.

“Looking back on it all, I wonder where the time went – travelling around the world chasing our dreams and realising many of them. Now it’s time to take a step to the side and help little Colton chase his.”

Check back here later in the week as we bring you part two of our interview with Paul Whibley.

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

Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here