News Release
Whibley Makes a Splash
29 January 2008
Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley was No.6 in the United States in 2007 but he was No.1 at Woodville on Sunday.Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley was No.6 in the United States in 2007 but he was No.1 at Woodville on Sunday.
Picked to dominate the crowd-pleasing river races at the weekend’s 47th annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville, the Suzuki star didn’t disappoint.
The professional off-road motorcycle racer – known affectionately as the “Axeman” thanks to his former occupation as a tree feller – was unstoppable on Sunday, a couple of water-proofing strips of duct tape across the airbox of his Suzuki RM-Z450 all the modification he needed.
He led virtually from start to finish on the big 450cc four-stroke. But it wasn’t as easy for the Kiwi international as he probably made it look. Whibley learned just half an hour before his first race on Sunday that one of his biggest fans – his grandfather, “Grundy” – had passed away and it was an emotional Whibley who eventually decided to press on with the racing.
“I wasn’t going to race. I wanted to pack everything away and head to Dannevirke to be with my family. But Grundy would have wanted me to race. He was a big fan of my racing.
“It was hard for me to concentrate on the racing but, once I was underway, it was okay.”
On the top step of the podium at the end of the day, Whibley dedicated his victory to his grandfather’s memory.
Whibley left the track before the rest of the day’s action was complete, off to the airport to catch his flight to San Francisco.
Sixth in the United States Grand National Cross-Country (GNCC) series last season, the 29-year-old again rates as one of the favourites this time around. The 2008 series kicks off in Florida on March 4.
Travelling with the factory Suzuki team, he will train with his team-mates at different locations across continent.
“It will take us three or four days’ driving to reach Florida. I ran out of fuel while running fifth in the Florida race last season. We learned from that mistake.”
If he can make sure his Suzuki has enough fuel this time around, the flying Kiwi believes he can again finish on the podium.
“It’s just a matter of being consistent all through the season,” he said.
Meanwhile, fellow Suzuki rider Luke Burkhart was also a dominant force at Woodville on Sunday, the 23-year-old from Hawera unbeaten in all three 250cc four-stroke motocross races.
It was a consolation, of sorts, for Burkhart, who had led the 2007 national championships in this class when a huge crash at the series’ finale wiped out his dreams of another national title.
“The class was packed with all the top riders, so it was a good feeling to win today,” he said.
“Winning at Woodville was a goal I had set for myself to start the season and I can tick this one off now.
“Normally I feel wrecked after a day’s racing at Woodville, but I feel fine right now.”
His team leader, Hawera’s national 500cc champion Daryl Hurley, battled hard to keep world No.3 Josh Coppins honest in the 500cc races.
Hurley (Suzuki RM-Z450) finished 3-2-2 in his 500cc outings, even leading the 2008 world championship favourite during one of the races. He also finished runner-up to Coppins in the weekend’s big Invitation International feature race.
A third member of the Suzuki motocross team, Queenstown international Scott Columb, finished third overall in the 250cc four-stroke class and then rode out on an RM-Z450 to finish fourth in the all-capacities feature race.
Hurley now switches focus to an entirely new assignment -- he marries his long-time girlfriend Jo in Hawera this coming Saturday.
Hurley, Burkhart, Columb and the crew of Team Suzuki thank their sponsors: Suzuki, Shift, Scott, Elf, Bridgestone, Asplundh, ilabb, Total Paints, PPG, DID, Tag Metals, Alpinestars Boots, Pro Circuit, One Industries, Trooper Helmets, Acerbis, E-Z up, JT Sprockets, Talon Hubs, Vortex Ignitions, Giltrap Prestige
