Pahiatua off-road motorcycle ace Paul Whibley has thrown himself back into the thick of the action as the Grand National Cross-country Championships in the United States resumed following the traditional mid-summer break.

The two-time former GNCC champion took his Yamaha YZ450F to finish sixth overall in the XC1 Pro class at the 10th round of 13 in the series at Unadilla, New York, at the weekend, ensuring he maintained his fifth overall position in the championship chase.

The 35-year-old former Manawatu forestry worker, affectionately dubbed “The Axeman” on the motorcycling scene, kept up the hard work over the US summer break, opting to keep sharp by tackling lesser events along the east coast of the North American Continent, and this paid off for the hard-working Kiwi.

Although Whibley snatched the holeshot at the start of the three-hour race, it was American Kailub Russell (KTM) who led after every lap, convincingly winning the day, and he therefore further extended his points lead in the XC1 Pro class with just three rounds now remaining.

Whibley held second spot for the early stages, while Andrew Delong (Husqvarna), Ryan Sipes (KTM) and Whibley’s Yamaha team-mate, American Jordan Ashburn, all battled among themselves inside the top five.

It stayed this way until, about three laps into the battle, they started to lap the tail end of the more than 360 riders on the course.

American Thad DuVall (Honda) put in an impressive come-from-behind performance to eventually capture second overall for the day, finishing a mere 27 seconds behind Russell, with Australian Josh Strang taking his Yamaha to finish the day third overall.

“I missed a good line at around the four-mile marker and lost a few spots. I pushed to try make some back but just ended up riding tight,” Whibley explained.

“During the middle of the race I ended up racing with Takeshi Koikeda and we swapped positions a few times. Takeshi was riding well and I really had to fight to catch back up after stopping for gas. After resuming our race I lost track of him somewhere in the following laps. I was pushing to try catch back up to him but I later learned I was in front of him and I must have gone by when he gassed.

“I was getting pit boards that I was making time on Andrew Delong in front and closed the gap late in the race but not enough to make any challenge for the position.

“Overall it was an okay return to racing. I would like to be closer to the front and will be aiming for that at the next round in Pennsylvania in a couple weeks.”

Fellow Kiwi BikesportNZ.com Yamaha ace Callan May, from Titirangi, finished sixth overall in the XC2 (250cc) class and he remains seventh in the XC2 championships standings.

It has been an impressive American debut season for the 22-year-old May (Yamaha YZ250F) and the GNCC rookie looks well on target to finish the year among the top 10.

May felt very content with his outing at the weekend.

“As the flag dropped, I got an excellent start going into the woods around ninth position,” he said.

“I was feeling very tight and pumped up, but, as I got through the first lap, I freed up and managed to put down some pace. I made some passes and got into sixth and was only 50 seconds off third at the halfway point.

“I was excited to see that since that is the closest I have been to the front of the pack all season. I came into trouble with a lapper and lost a spot that I couldn’t regain, so settled with seventh in XC2 and 18th overall for the day.”

Whibley is supported by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, MSR G2, Asterisk, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D, Bush Riders MCC, Spectro, Acerbis, DID, JT sprockets, Leatt, Kenda, Sargent Motorcycles, Yamaha NZ, Bikesportnz.com, Unibiker and Tire balls.

May is supported by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, Kiwi Rider magazine, BikesportNZ.com, MotoSR, Golden Tyres, Fox, Graphic Creation, GYTR and Yamalube.

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

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XC1 Pro overall results:

1. Kailub Russell

2. Thad Duvall

3. Josh Strang

4. Chris Bach

5. Andrew Delong

6. Paul Whibley

7. Takeshi Koikeda

8. Jordan Ashburn

9. Ryan Sipes

10. Adam Bonneur

 

XC1 Pro championship standings:

1. Kailub Russell 268

2. Josh Strang 197

3. Charlie Mullins 181

4. Jordan Ashburn 176

5. Paul Whibley 161

6. Andrew Delong 139

7. Chris Bach 137

8. Thad Duvall 132

9. Steward Baylor Jr 119

10. Takeshi Koikeda 114

XC2 overall results:

1. Grant Baylor (KTM)

2. Trevor Bollinger (HON)

3. Nick Davis (KTM)

4. Ricky Russell (YAM)

5. Ian Blythe (KTM)

6. Michael McGinnis (KTM)

7. Callan May (YAM)

8. Drew Torrance (KTM)

9. Phillipe Chaine (KTM)

10. Jesse Groemm (KTM)

XC2 Series Standings:

1. Grant Baylor 262

2. Ricky Russell 233

3. Trevor Bollinger 210

4. Layne Michael 127

5. Jesse Groemm 119

6. Callan May 115

7. Shane Hufford Jr 114

8. Sam Evans 104

9. Chris Douglas 99

10. Nick Davis 90