Whibs 2010

[secondfield]

Excellent new's, knew he would do better on that machine..

[takitimu]

And another Oma in the bag http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/of.../whibley-again

Sounds a really solid effort by whibs, good stuff coming up to the gncc resumption.

[takitimu]

Race Report: OMA Rnd 7, Newark Missouri
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 1st

Round 7 was a fresh venue for the OMA series located in north eastern Missouri. The woods were surprisingly dry considering the rain that had fallen around the area in the weeks leading up to the event. Also it was going to be a pretty fast track with the woods being fairly open and clean, there was less of the gnarly stuff for Bill Gusse to throw at us.
I got a good jump off the line and was in the top 3 going round the first turn. Moving in behind Scott Watkins who shared the hole shot money with Bret Zofchak. I followed Scott for a couple miles and took the lead when he made a small mistake climbing a bank. We set a good pace and opened up a gap on the rest of the pack. Scott latched onto my rear fender and hounded me for the first half of the race. I managed to get a 20 second gap by the fuel stop and I could watch Scott on a couple of sections to make sure I was maintaining the lead. The track was open and I didn't want to go too much faster through the trees because if a mistake was to be made the price would have been pretty high. Scott rode good and continued to keep the pace up and never fell back, maintaining the gap and pressure. I'm sure his maiden win in this series is not too far off.
Taking the win marked my fourth in a row in this series and an extension of my points lead. The plan is to continue to put in good results over the last 3 rounds and pad that lead some more.


Front Tire, Kenda Washougal
Rear Tire, Kenda Washougal

[takitimu]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motorsport...ectid=10669990 ( via http://twitter.com/speedway_racing )

Nice article in NZ Herald , Whib's really starting to get into form now.

My project getting pushed, still think I'll get back to USA to watch St Clairsville, but getting tight.

[denill]

Race Report: Little Brown Jug Enduro, Union, South Carolina
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 3rd

Conditions were very dry and extremely dusty again for the weekends racing. I was a late entry to the Little Brown Jug Enduro when Randy Hawkins asked me to fill in for an absent Charlie Mullins. With not a lot of racing on, being a long weekend, an Enduro would be a fun change of pace. Also learning the rules and how the event runs took some time with a different system than the World Enduro Format but by the middle of the day I had a grasp of the basics.

Right off the bat dust was an issue. Racing was limited to what you could see and I couldn't see much. The dust was pretty blinding as it just hung in the still, crisp air and with the sun shining down creating a seemingly solid wall in some situations. I wasn't at all comfortable with pinning it in these conditions with the risk outweighing the gain for me. I wasn't about to ride over my head and pick up an injury.

The trail however was pretty fun and had a cool flow to it, weaving through the open woods, a couple sections of rollers that could be turned into doubles and nothing too tight.

Local young gun Stuart Baylor ended up being a man on a mission when the times were all tallied at the end of the day, taking the win ahead of Jessie Robinson. I rounded out the top three, happy to be in one piece. I actually enjoyed the change of pace and getting back to an Enduro format. Hope next years not so dusty cause I'd like to take another shot at this event.

Thanks to the Belue family for all their support at the check points.

1st: Stuart Baylor
2nd: Jesse Robinson
3rd: Paul Whibley


Kenda Tires: Front, Triple. Rear, Washougal

Paul Whibley is supported by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, Ohlins, G2, CTi, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D

[raglanash]

Dusty all right. Whibs #27a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5se3y...layer_embedded

[denill]

Dusty all right. Whibs #27a

Good vid, thanks mate. The whole field seem to be going really quick. Even over the lil wooded bridge.

[raglanash]

Heres another one of an older race, awesome camera work.

[denill]

Race Report: GNCC Round 10, Unadilla NY
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 10th

Tough day at the office pretty much sums up my race at the first GNCC back after the break.

I got a good jump of the line but got squeezed in turn one and pushed into the post on the inside of the corner, damaging the shroud and folding my thumb back.
I put the pain aside and set my mind to making some passes. I was making a move on teammate Barry Hawk when I hit an unseen kicker and hit the deck before I even new what was going on. Back up quickly and back on the bike while with a few other body parts feeling it now. I kept pushing and reminded myself that its still early in the race and I've won races before from worse situations. I soon realized I had some more problems with the clutch adjuster not working now.

Possibly the crash had bent the hand guard back against the clutch perch and caused the problem. As I passed Katherine further down the track I signaled I had a problem and would need some adjustment. I continued to push and a lap later was back behind Hawk, making a pass on him and pulling in behind Buttrick. I passed through the pits and saw they were ready to work on the bike. I wanted to make it to the fuel stop and fix it then so continued on one more lap.

A lap later I was into the pits for gas after passing Lafferty and Buttrick. I got gas but no one was ready to fix the issue with the clutch. Frustrated I went back out with the situation unresolved. It was becoming more difficult to race, with the clutch gaining too much free play and being unable to use it resulting in several near misses. I saw Katherine later in the lap and stopped and told her to make sure next time I gas they need to have the tools ready to fix the problem. The pain in my thumb began to take over and I realized my ribs were pretty sore from the crash as well, taking full breaths was tough. I was into the pits again for the second fuel stop and finally something was done to fix the clutch problem. I could ride properly again, but I was a fair way back and it was too late in the race to do anything. I finished the race very disappointed.

Big congrats to Jimmy Jarrett for taking the win. Its been long time and after the tough season that Jimmy has endured this year, the win was just rewards for his perseverance.

1st: Jimmy Jarrett
2nd: Nate Kanney
3rd: Chris Bach


Kenda Tires: Front, Triple. Rear, Washougal

Paul Whibley is supported by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, Ohlins, G2, CTi, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D

[NordieBoy]

Ouch !

[takitimu]

Ouch !

Yeah, nasty time of the year to be having team issues to, with renegotiations just around the corner.

[denill]

Race Report: OMA Round 9, Memphis, Mo
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 1st

Round 9 of the OMA series dished out a complete contrast in conditions to the last OMA race. From blinding dust at Round 8 to deep mud this time, OMAs have it all.

A start was going to be just as important at this race for similar reasons. Vision. Its not a dust cloud but a wall of roost riders had to deal with this time.
I had been practicing starts and testing a new Vortex Ignition with good results. The green flag waved and I launched off the line and into turn one in first, only to have Shane Klemic kamikaze into turn two and take the hole shot money. I think he was already on his butt when he crossed the line and obviously in need of the cash more than me. I had bigger plans for the race and made the turn and led the way.

The track was pretty drowned from all the rain with a lot of water filling the ruts and low spots. I took my time, not wanting to make any rash decisions and drown out somewhere. Scott Watkins was still behind me as we completed a lap but had been eating mud for 30 minutes. Since I had been leading I didn't need to stop for goggles, my Smiths were still in pristine condition. I picked up the pace on lap two and created a lead. The Vortex Ignition also had a nice power curve that smoothed out power to find traction in the slick and slime, but also maintained that bottom boost to really dig in the deep mud.
At the completion of lap two we came into the pits for gas. Katherine, Sam and Mike had me in and out with Nascar speed.

The last two laps I rode safe and smart, maintaining my lead and staying out of trouble, taking my 6th win in a row and extending my points lead.
One round remains in this series, the legendary Moose Run.


1st: Paul Whibley
2nd: Scotty Watkins
3rd: Nick Fahringer


Kenda Tires: Front, Washougal. Rear, Millville

Paul Whibley is supported by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, Ohlins, G2, CTi, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D

[NordieBoy]

I ride safe and smart too.

But I get last

Maybe a Vortex ignition would help...

[takitimu]

I ride safe and smart too.

But I get last

Maybe a Vortex ignition would help...

Dunno about the Vortex ignition, but I'm going for a G2 throttle cam, sounds damn handy.

I like how Paul mentions his sponsors personally, they cough real money & gear to enable him to ride & only fair for him to mention how they help him & what works.

[denill]

Dunno about the Vortex ignition, but I'm going for a G2 throttle cam, sounds damn handy.

I like how Paul mentions his sponsors personally, they cough real money & gear to enable him to ride & only fair for him to mention how they help him & what works.

Yep. Full credit to Paul for his most professional attitude.

Young guys with their heads up their arses should take note and show their appreciation to their sponsors - no matter what level.