News Release

Kiwi Keeps The Pressure On

24 June 2008
They don't come much sharper than the man they call "The Axeman".
 
New Zealand's Paul "The Axeman" Whibley remains on target to win the prestigious Grand National Cross Country Championships (GNCC) in the United States after another solid performance, at round eight of the series at Yadkinville, North Carolina, on Sunday.
 
Sixth overall last season, the Kiwi hero has produced a golden run of results recently and is now up to second in the championship standings.
 
Whibley (Suzuki RM-Z450) dominated at rounds six and seven of the series, topping the podium in Ohio (on May 11) and Kentucky (June 1).
 
Although he finished back in fourth place in North Carolina on Sunday -- with his Suzuki team-mates Josh Strang and Charlie Mullins hogging the top of the podium - Whibley stays second in the series standings, still close behind the leader, the legendary giant from the Isle of Man, David Knight.
Whibley had a mediocre start in North Carolina and was sixth after the opening 28-minute lap, before briefly slipping back to seventh.
 
Then the former Manawatu forestry worker mounted one of his trademark charges, moving up to fourth within the space of just two laps.
 
Australian Strang (Suzuki) snatched the lead, followed by American Mullins (Suzuki), Knight (KTM) and then Whibley and that's how it stayed until the end with Whibley eventually finishing just two minutes behind race winner Strang.
 
Without any rain in the area for weeks leading up to the event, dust was the theme of the day, although the sections deeper in the woods weren’t as bad as the open fields.
 
The track featured the signature Yadkinville obstacles, including a massive creek jump and a run through a house.
 
With nearest rival Knight finishing ahead of Whibley, the Isle of Man native has strengthened his stranglehold on the series lead but Whibley knows he is still capable of taking the title and that will be his focus in the coming weeks.
 
Five rounds remain in the 13-round series with the next event in Somerset, Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburgh, in a fortnight (on July 6).