Pahiatua Man Wraps Up American Title

PAHIATUA MAN WRAPS UP AMERICAN TITLE

New Zealand’s Paul Whibley (Yamaha), with another American title under his belt. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

NOVEMBER 2, 2011: It’s one down and one to go for New Zealand’s Paul Whibley.

The Pahiatua rider celebrated his ninth round win in a row in the Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV (OMA) series in the United States at the weekend, stamping his authority on the competition as he again confirmed his dominance in this series as he wrapped up his fourth consecutive OMA championship title.

All that remains now is for the Kiwi hero to make it two major American cross-country titles for the season with the parallel Grand National Cross-country (GNCC) also racing towards its conclusion in the coming few days.

The Yamaha ace is a close third overall in the GNCC series and the final round of that series is set for Tennessee this weekend.

So, with the close proximity of that race, Whibley needs to keep a clear head and he will therefore have little time to celebrate his OMA title win.

Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) will be hoping his final GNCC assault is as sweet and rewarding as was his victory at the 10th and final round of the OMA series, the “Moose Run” in Illinois, at the weekend.

“I got a good jump off the start line (in Illinois) and rounded the first turn in front, but Adam Bonneur swept round the outside of the wide open corn field, taking the holeshot,” Whibley reported.

“I moved back into the lead quickly and led the way around the peat bogs, taking safe lines, not wanting to end my race before it had begun. I held a small lead as we ventured off the quad track and out into the woods. It is very difficult to maintain a breakaway in this race, as the track is so fresh and you are constantly searching for the arrows.

“Still it was my own personal challenge to see how long I could keep the gap. I made it about half of the 38-mile lap before Jimmy Jarrett and the chasing pack latched back on to me.”

To add to the challenge, it then started to rain.

“Midway through the last lap I got stuck in a deep rut and Jimmy Jarrett pulled up and passed me. I get going again and shortly saw that Jimmy has his own problems with a log, allowing me back into the lead. I again built a gap that I would eventually grow to 1m 30s by the chequered flag.”

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

ENDS

© Scoop Media