Whibs won again

[camchain]

He's now a champion. Must be a great feeling to have achieved that, and well earned.
Reading that race report on the GNCC website, got the impression yanks not overly happy about non USA champ... again. (A few other Kiwis doing some good work there as well.)

Suzuki will be dissapointed about the team budget cut. I was told today it was mainly due to the others having longer/stronger contracts, and they really didn't have much choice about letting Whibs go?

[t595]

Good shit!!!! i wonder if they will find time to mention him on the news,between the rugby the rugby and the rugby? oh and the league

[flyingcr250]

Good shit!!!! i wonder if they will find time to mention him on the news,between the rugby the rugby and the rugby? oh and the league

oh man im sick to my ass of rugby,

its a shame he probably wont even get a mention on the news. why would you wanna come back to the land of inoportunity

[denill]

Race Report: GNCC Final Crawfordsville, IN
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: JG Offroad, GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki
Bike: Kawasaki KX450f
Result: 4th,

GNCC CHAMPION 2009

The past couple weeks leading up to the final GNCC seemed to take forever. After putting in two wins and a 3rd after the break I had boosted my lead in the Championship to around 23 points. So at the final round I needed to play it safe and finish inside the top 13 to claim the title.

With the wave of the green flag the final GNCC of 2009 was underway. Off the start I avoided any pile ups in the first turn and was mid pack through the first lap. There was a lot of lead changes with plenty of line options as the track had been churned up by the 500 odd morning race entrants. I began to move up toward the leaders and was in touch with the lead group when I bounced off Thad Duvall pretty hard when our different lines merged. This made me nervous as I didn't want the title chase to end right there with a damaged bike. So I backed it down some more and stopped taking any risks. I found it hard to ride at the reduced pace and ended up riding bad and making a lot of mistakes. The mud holes were getting bad but the spectators and team personnel in their bright yellow GEICO shirts kept me on the straight and narrow.

At the fuel stop I was informed I was doing exactly what was needed to take the title and keep it up. Late in the race I ended up riding with Kallib Russell and began to ride better as we pushed each other along. I ended up moving up to 4th in class by the end of the race. Securing the GNCC Championship, Job Done, Mission Accomplished. Crossing the line was an amazing feeling. Lost for words, relieved, excited and so, so happy. Surrounded by the team and supporters and getting a big emotional hug from Katherine. Awesome.

Winning the title has been a life long dream of mine but a lot of people have helped me get to the final step. Too many to mention here but I have to thank some of the major ones. Katherine for believing in me and supporting me 100% of the way. The JG Off road team, JT and Gretchen. Mark for all his work behind the scene. My mechanic Scotty and also Monty for their hard work. All the great sponsors, both personal and team. Our two Mums for coming over to see what we do.

Also in the years leading up to this point, all the people who have helped me and have shared their experience. Scott Summers and Fred Bramblet for giving me the opportunity to come to America and race. The teams in the WEC that taught me a lot, Husqvarna, Gas Gas and Paul Edmondsons' Honda team. Justin Heke for his hard as hell training programs, Richy from MotoSR. Morrie and Dan for their mechanical skills and support.
And the fans at the races for all their support and cheering me on. All the emails of support from friends, family and fans that have wished me well and kept me motivated.

All those that I have forgot to mention, I'm sorry, there have been so many in this journey that deserve more thanks than I can give here.

Thanks to my Sponsors:
JG Offroad, GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Moose Racing, Shoei, Smith, Sidi, RG3, Ohlins USA, Moto SR, Pirelli, LeoVince, No Toil, CTi, Enduro Engineering, Renthal, Pro Moto Billet/Fastway, IMS, Vortex ignitions, G2, PG Graphics, EBC Brakes, Tsubaki Chains, WER, BRP, Rekluse, CV4, Silkolene, Works Connection, Motion Pro

[vazza]

Good on him! Great news

[denill]

Race Report: OMA Final Morrison, Illinois
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: JG Offroad, GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki
Bike: Kawasaki KX450f
Result: 1st
OMA CHAMPION 2009

The final round of the OMA series was held in Morrison Illinois. This race runs to a different beat than the rest of the OMA rounds. This event has a lap of around 35 miles, set out through some tough, log littered, mud hole riddled trails and connected by some flat out corn fields. Two laps was the race distance, race time was as long as it takes.

I got a good start taking the hole shot and led the first part of the lap. With the trail being so fresh it was tough to find the way as we blazed a track through the woods. The lead swapped between myself, my teammates Jimmy Jarrett and Scotty Watkins and several of the other pros. Late in the lap I managed to start a break away with Jimmy and Jason Thomas. I managed to get through the infamous peat bog clean at the end of the lap and opened up a lead.

The track was quite different on lap two with plenty of bike swallowing ruts and mud holes. Several times I got wedged in ruts and had to get off and heave the bike out. I managed to keep up the fast pace and keep ahead of Jimmy in second place. Pinning it across some of the corn fields and aqua planning over some of the surface water lying around from the weeks rain. After 3 and a half hours of racing and taking it easy through the peat bog for the last time taking the win and maintaining my unbeaten record in the 2009 OMA season, going 10 for 10.

Great way to finish out the season.


Thanks to my Sponsors:
JG Offroad, GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Moose Racing, Shoei, Smith, Sidi, RG3, Ohlins USA, Moto SR, Pirelli, LeoVince, No Toil, CTi, Enduro Engineering, Renthal, Pro Moto Billet/Fastway, IMS, Vortex ignitions, G2, PG Graphics, EBC Brakes, Tsubaki Chains, WER, BRP, Rekluse, CV4, Silkolene, Works Connection, Motion Pro

[NordieBoy]

Goodon'im

[camchain]

Cheers denill. OMA champ again as well. About time these sorts of achievements were properly recognised in this country. Some trumpet blowing called for.