denill
19th February 2013, 12:51
Race Report: Rattlesnake Ridge Team Race NC
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450 F
Result: 1st
Freezing temperatures and a dusting of snow the daybefore had a lot of people opting for a
cup of hot chocolate rather than a ride on their motorcycle. I think this was the biggest reason
the turn out was on the light side.
The start of the race was scheduled for noon but temperatures hadn’t moved much above
freezing and the ground in a few spots on the hillside was still frozen rock hard.
I grabbed the start with Jesse Robinson hot on my heels the whole first lap. I was struggling the
first lap. It was so cold that my eyes kept watering with the cold air and I could hardly see
where to go. Just after I started the second lap and past the point of swapping riders I got a flat
rear tire. Since I was just riding my practice bikeI hadn’t fitted any Tireballs, but how I wished I
had as the track had turned up a lot of sharp edgedrocks after the quads on Saturday.
I managed to stay ahead of Jesse even with the flat right up till the last mile from the finish
where a small bottleneck had formed, I went around one way, Jesse the other, with Jesse
taking the advantage. I completed the lap and came into the exchange area where my partner
Mattew Nix went out and gave chase to Jesse’s partner, Casey Leatherman. Matt put in two
great laps, regained the lead, then surrendered it again to Jesse. I went out a few seconds
behind Casey for my second session and after three laps had set up a good lead with Matt
extending it during his second session.
In the final hour we split the laps between us and Matt finished up the race strong, taking the
win for us with the sun sinking in the sky and the temperatures again dropping to freezing.
It was a fun days racing and proved some good practice with similar conditions to the
upcoming OMA.
1st: Paul Whibley/ Mattew Nix
Paul Whibley is supported by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith,
G2,Asterisk, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D, Bush Riders
MCC, Darbis, GHQ, Sargent Motorcycles, Yamaha NZ, Rosscos
Start Up Services, Works Connection, Pro Taper, Race Pace
Services, Unabiker, Leatt Brace, Tire Balls, bikesportnz.com,
Stuk, KettleClamp, Alliance Offroad, Ride Eng.
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450 F
Result: 1st
Freezing temperatures and a dusting of snow the daybefore had a lot of people opting for a
cup of hot chocolate rather than a ride on their motorcycle. I think this was the biggest reason
the turn out was on the light side.
The start of the race was scheduled for noon but temperatures hadn’t moved much above
freezing and the ground in a few spots on the hillside was still frozen rock hard.
I grabbed the start with Jesse Robinson hot on my heels the whole first lap. I was struggling the
first lap. It was so cold that my eyes kept watering with the cold air and I could hardly see
where to go. Just after I started the second lap and past the point of swapping riders I got a flat
rear tire. Since I was just riding my practice bikeI hadn’t fitted any Tireballs, but how I wished I
had as the track had turned up a lot of sharp edgedrocks after the quads on Saturday.
I managed to stay ahead of Jesse even with the flat right up till the last mile from the finish
where a small bottleneck had formed, I went around one way, Jesse the other, with Jesse
taking the advantage. I completed the lap and came into the exchange area where my partner
Mattew Nix went out and gave chase to Jesse’s partner, Casey Leatherman. Matt put in two
great laps, regained the lead, then surrendered it again to Jesse. I went out a few seconds
behind Casey for my second session and after three laps had set up a good lead with Matt
extending it during his second session.
In the final hour we split the laps between us and Matt finished up the race strong, taking the
win for us with the sun sinking in the sky and the temperatures again dropping to freezing.
It was a fun days racing and proved some good practice with similar conditions to the
upcoming OMA.
1st: Paul Whibley/ Mattew Nix
Paul Whibley is supported by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith,
G2,Asterisk, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D, Bush Riders
MCC, Darbis, GHQ, Sargent Motorcycles, Yamaha NZ, Rosscos
Start Up Services, Works Connection, Pro Taper, Race Pace
Services, Unabiker, Leatt Brace, Tire Balls, bikesportnz.com,
Stuk, KettleClamp, Alliance Offroad, Ride Eng.