News Release

Whibley Wins Again

03 June 2008
New Zealand's Paul "The Axeman" Whibley has done it again.
 
The Suzuki rider from Pahiatua has won another round of the Grand National Cross-country Championships (GNCC) in the United States.
 
Whibley (Suzuki RM-Z450) led home Australian pair Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna) and Josh Strang (Suzuki) and American KTM rider Nate Kanney at round seven, in Sparta, Kentucky, at the weekend.
 
This made it an historic all-Australasian podium, the first time in the history of cross-country racing in the United States that American riders have not featured in the top three.
 
Suzuki's Charlie Mullins took the holeshot, but then series leader David Knight grabbed the lead. Knight had to withstand heavy pressure from Strang and Kearney.
 
Eventually Knight crashed hard, lost time and also bent his bike.
 
The hot, fast, and rough conditions took a toll on the field and, after three-hours of racing, former tree-feller Whibley, well known for his endurance, snatched the lead on the last lap, edging in front of his team-mate Strang once again.
 
"It was rough and I had to ride hard, but I think I could have maybe gone another lap," said Whibley. "But I'm not sure, because it was rough and I had the hammer down because I wanted to hold on for the win."
 
The entire pack was close throughout the day, until fatigue finally set in late in the race and spread the field apart.
 
Knight (KTM), from the Isle of Man, finished an uncharacteristic fifth at the weekend.
 
That's two below-par finishes now for Knight, who had dominated the early part of the season and again looked untouchable in 2008.
 
Knight finished seventh at the previous round while Whibley on that day recorded his first win of the season.
 
Whibley has now strung together two winning rides, strengthening his hold on second place in the championships standings, although he is still 23 points behind Knight.
 
Whibley's Suzuki team-mate Strang is third overall after seven rounds, 19 points in arrears of Whibley.