A heat-wave may well be sweeping the east coast of the United States, but none are sizzling more than New Zealand’s Paul Whibley.

The Yamaha ace has now opened up a small gap at the top of the rankings after he won the ninth round of 13 in the Grand National Cross Country Championships (GNCC) at Millfield, Ohio, at the weekend.

Runner-up was Whibley’s arch rival, American rider Kailub Russell (KTM), but Kiwi riders again hogged the podium as fellow New Zealander Rory Mead finished the day third overall.

Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) had started the day just one point ahead of Russell, the two men hammering it out for the 2012 crown since the series kicked off in Florida in March, but the former Manawatu forestry worker – affectionately dubbed “The Axeman” by his motorcycling rivals – is now six points in front.

Whibley seems to be edging closer to reclaiming the GNCC crown he last held in 2009, although the series now takes a mid-season break, shutting down during the brutally hot mid-summer in the US, before resuming with round 10 at Unadilla, New York, on September 16.

Meanwhile, the Ohio result was a significant one for Wellington’s Mead too, ensuring he remains in touch with the top two.

Mead (KTM 300XC) had been running second to Whibley at Ohio until Russell pounced during the last lap.

“It was incredibly hot and so hard just to breathe,” said Mead. “I just decided it wasn’t worth the risk to push any harder and let Russell go. I have to pay compliments to Paul though. He’s just such a tough guy.”

Mead raced a Yamaha YZ450F to reclaim the New Zealand Enduro Championships crown last season before embarking on his first full GNCC campaign this year.

With the mid-season break now in force, Mead will return home and is expected to front up with a YZ450F at the fifth and final round of the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships near Taupo in just over a week’s time.

It is worth noting that Whibley also leads the parallel Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV (OMA) series in the US. Unbeaten after five rounds thus far, the Yamaha ace is well on target to claim his fifth consecutive OMA crown.

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

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

Below is helmet camera footage from Kailub Russell.

XC1 Pro Results:

Paul Whibley (YAM)
Kailub Russell (KTM)
Rory Mead (KTM)
Chris Bach (YAM)
Thad DuVall (HON)
Josh Strang (KTM)
Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
Nathan Kanney (HON)
Garrett Edmisten (KAW)
Mark Fortner (BET)

XC2 Pro Lites Results:

Andrew DeLong (HSQ)
Jason Thomas (KTM)
Steward Baylor (KTM)
Jedediah Haines (YAM)
Nick Davis (HSQ)
AJ Stewart (YAM)
Brad Bakken (YAM)
Ryan Lojak (YAM)
Ricky Mair (KTM)
Michael Mcginnis (KTM)

XC1 Pro Standings:

Paul Whibley (228/3 wins)
Kailub Russell (222/4 wins)
Rory Mead (177/2 wins)
Thad DuVall (138)
Jordan Ashburn (132)
Charlie Mullins (129)
Chris Bach (123)
Garrett Edmisten (116)
Nathan Kanney (101)
Takeshi Koikeda (100)

XC2 Pro Lites Standings:

Steward Baylor Jr. (200/5 wins)
Jason Thomas (188/1 win)
Andrew DeLong (172/3 wins)
Jesse Robinson (155)
Jedediah Haines (153)
Brad Bakken (130)
AJ Stewart (107)
Cody Gragg (91)
Scott Grills (87)
Zach Nolan (84)