New Zealand riders hogged the podium at the eighth round of 13 in this season’s Grand National Cross Country Championships in the United States at the weekend.

Wellington’s Rory Mead and Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley finished first and third respectively at the famous Snowshoe GNCC event in West Virginia at the weekend, the Kiwi pair sandwiching American Kailub Russell on the podium.

It was a significant result for both New Zealanders – it was Mead’s second GNCC win on his first full season in the United States, while for Whibley it was a minor setback in his bid to reclaim the title he last held in 2009.

Yamaha’s Whibley had enjoyed a five-point lead over Russell, his nearest rival for the 2012 title, as the riders headed to West Virginia at the weekend, but that advantage has now been shaved back to a single point.

“I chased down Jason Thomas (over the final phase of the race) and we battled it out over the last couple of laps,” said Whibley.

“I made a pass stick on the last lap when he dropped it in a rock garden, that some drunken spectators had dumped a load more rocks and logs onto the track in hope of spicing up their spectating spot.

“I managed to open up a small gap. I was now up to third and made it to the finish to salvage some good points from a tough day at the office.”

For Mead, who raced a Yamaha YZ450F to reclaim the New Zealand Enduro Championships crown last season before embarking on his first full GNCC campaign this year, it was a stunning result.

Riding a KTM 300 XC for the WMR team while in the US, the result has now rocketed Mead from fourth to third in the series standings, albeit still 41 points adrift of Russell.

Russell took the early lead in the race but Mead then snatched the lead and there was no heading him after that.

The battle for third place waged between AmPro Yamaha team-mates Whibley and Jordan Ashburn but, six laps later, it was Factory Husaberg rider Nick Fahringer who had moved up to claim the fourth spot, while Ashburn slipped back to settle for sixth place at the finish.

“I’ve been looking forward to this race for a while now and I knew it was going to be a strong one for me,” Mead said afterwards.

“It was definitely one of the toughest races I’ve done in America but I enjoy the technical stuff,” said the former moto trials rider.

“I’m going to try to be consistent in the last five races and hope to maintain my third place in points, or better.”

“It was easier doing this event last year because I was an underdog then and nobody really knew me.

“This year everyone was coming past the pits saying, ‘Aw man you’re going to win today,’ and I thought I was going to do well, but I didn’t want to say I was going to win.

“I tried not to think about it too much but I knew I was going to be strong, but I didn’t expect everyone else to be so strong! I thought I rode pretty well and Kailub Russell was right there at the end with me (six seconds behind).”

Round nine is set for Millfield, Ohio, on July 7 and 8 for the Wiseco John Penton GNCC.

 

XC1 Pro Results:

1.      Rory Mead (KTM)

2.      Kailub Russell (KTM)

3.      Paul Whibley (YAM)

4.      Nick Fahringer (HSB)

5.      Bobby Prochnau (KTM)

6.      Jordan Ashburn (YAM)

7.      Takeshi Koikeda (KTM)

8.      Chris Bach (YAM)

9.      Nathan Kanney (HON)

10.    Garrett Edmisten (KAW)

 

XC2 Pro Lites Results:

1.      Jason Thomas (KTM)

2.      Andrew DeLong (HSQ)

3.      Steward Baylor (KTM)

4.      Jesse Robinson (HSB)

5.      Jedediah Haines (YAM)

6.      Zach Nolan (KTM)

7.      Ryan Echols (KTM)

8.      AJ Stewart (YAM)

9.      Ryan Lojak (YAM)

10.    William Gilleland (YAM)

 

XC1 Pro Standings:

1.      Paul Whibley (198/2 wins)

2.      Kailub Russell (197/4 wins)

3.      Rory Mead (156/2 wins)

4.      Charlie Mullins (129)

5.      Thad DuVall (122)

6.      Jordan Ashburn (118)

7.      Chris Bach (105)

8.      Garrett Edmisten (104)

9.      Takeshi Koikeda (90)

10.    Nathan Kanney (88)

 

XC2 Pro Lites Standings:

1.      Steward Baylor Jr. (182/5 wins)

2.      Jason Thomas (173/1 win)

3.      Jesse Robinson (132)

4.      Andrew DeLong (123/2 wins)

5.      Jedediah Haines (136)

6.      Brad Bakken (116)

7.      AJ Stewart (93)

8.      Cody Gragg (82)

9.      Scott Grills (80)

10.    Zach Nolan (75)

 

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