Whibs 2010

[denill]

Race Report: GNCC Round 11, The Titan, TN
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 7th XC1

With the new Vortex Ignition on I was confident of another good start. The YZ fired up faster than ever, shooting me to the first turn in record time and nabbing the MotorcycleUSA.com hole shot money. The YZ was running strong and we led the way on the first lap although the thumb I injured at Unadilla was bothering me on the rocky, square edged track. Near the end of lap one there was a mile long section added for the afternoon race.

I blazed the trail through the virgin woods only to hit some loose rocks in some long grass and go down hard. Re injuring my thumb, bending the bars and loosing a lot of positions. At the end of the second lap I came in for fuel and the team straightened things up and sent me back out. The track was pretty choppy and I was finding it tough to hang on. Trying to grip loosely only encouraged blisters and rotating my grip to ease the pain just impacted another area of my hand.

After the second fuel stop I was no longer able to race, merely maintaining forward momentum in an effort to get to the finish. Not losing any positions by the finish was a small victory but also very far from the result I'm chasing.

1st: Josh Strang
2nd: Charlie Mullins
3rd: Corry Buttrick


Kenda Tires: Front, Triple. Rear, Triple

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

[raglanash]

He's back !
GNCC Racing
St. Clairsville, OH - Round 12
XC1 Pro - Class Results
Place Nbr Name Hometown Brand Laps Elapsed
1 001 PAUL J WHIBLEY TRAVELERS REST, SC YAM 7 02:50:27.161
2 016 GLENN J KEARNEY HICKORY, NC HSQ 7 02:50:34.020
3 002 JOSHUA V STRANG ANTIOCH, CA SUZ 7 02:50:35.411
4 003 CHARLES D MULLINS HICKORY, NC YAM 7 02:50:39.130
5 009 BARRY HAWK JR SMITHFIELD, PA YAM 7 02:53:47.427
6 112 MICHAEL LAFFERTY MILLVILLE, NJ HSB 7 02:59:12.224
7 008 CORY J BUTTRICK LOGAN, OH KTM 7 02:59:31.630
8 187 TOBY PRICE SINGLETON NSW, AU KTM 7 03:04:47.270
9 308 JUSTIN WILLIAMSON SANFORD, FL KAW 7 03:05:10.395
10 021 KENNETH S GILBERT GAFFNEY, SC KAW 7 03:05:16.645
XC1 Standings:
1. Josh Strang (280/5 wins)
2. Charlie Mullins (248/3 wins)
3. Cory Buttrick (225/1 win)
4. Paul Whibley (220/1 win)
5. Chris Bach (191)

[denill]

Race Report: GNCC Round 12, St Clairsville, Ohio
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 1st

Launching off the line, the YZ drove me around turn one nabbing another hole shot. Cory Buttrick pushed past and took the lead as we dove into the woods. I was happy to have someone lead the way early on as there were a few mud holes that I didn't want to be first through. Mid way through lap one I got around Cory on one of the big hill climbs and retook the lead. I set a comfortable pace and opened up a small lead. As I completed lap one Katherine gave me a pit board saying I had about 10 second lead over the rest of the pack.
Glenn Kearney moved up to second and began closing in on me. I picked up the pace but soon my teammate Charlie Mullins was back there as well putting on the pressure.

Near the end of lap 3, I came in for fuel and Glenn and Charlie flew by opting to go one more lap before gassing. Leaving the pits in third I closed in on Charlie only to go down jumping one of the mudholes and lose sight of him. I picked myself up and pushed hard soon regaining sight of Charlie and pulling up on his rear wheel. A mistake came when he was trying to get around a lapped rider opening the door just enough for me to barge through. I took off after Glenn who had created a small lead. By the time we came back around to the pits I had Glenn within sight and when he stopped for gas I retook the lead. The pace increased and with four laps to go it was still anyones race. Glenn pushed hard and was right on my rear wheel going into the last lap. Somehow over the last lap I managed to open up a small buffer, taking my first GNCC win of the season.

Feels pretty good to finally get back on the podium and notch up a win. Got to thank all the friends and fans who have stuck by me this year and continuously offered support and encouragement through the challenging times.

Big congrats to Josh Strang on claiming the series championship. His third place was enough for him to wrap up the title with a round to spare.

1st: Paul Whibley
2nd: Glenn Kearney
3rd: Josh Strang


Kenda Tires: Front, Triple. Rear, Triple

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

[NordieBoy]

Good stuff

[secondfield]

Yeah' well done Paul, a valiant effort!

[denill]

Race Report: OMA Round 10, Moose Run, Illinois
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 1st

Got to love a bike that can claim hole shots, and my YZ is grabbing them everywhere at the moment. Taking the K&N hole shot award and leading the way out through the dusty corn fields on the first of two 40 mile laps. In to the fresh woods and the pace slowed, I wasn't prepared to take many risks amongst the thick undergrowth and freshly fallen leaves that hide a lot of the logs and nasty's that lay in wait of an unsuspecting front wheel.

I continued to lead for a while until a log crossing caught me by surprise and allowed some others to take a shot at blazing a trail. Nick Fahringer, with his freshly broken nose took point and set a brave pace through the woods. I followed his every move and mishap and together we began to pull a lead. Late in the first lap I broke away from Nick when we came out onto some used trails and by the end of the lap had a comfortable lead.

Gassing up and off on the last lap with the trail now cleared the pace was much faster. Mid lap Katherine gave me a pit board as I crossed a little dirt road that I had about a minute and a half lead. I continued to push as you never know how bad the mud holes would have cut up and one small mistake can cost a lot of time. Everything went pretty smooth though and I even extended my lead to about 2 minutes by the finish, taking my 7th straight win and 3rd OMA championship.

On crossing the line I received news that JG Offroad, GEICO team rider Scott Watkins had taken a nasty spill out in one of the fast corn fields and been carted off to hospital with a suspected broken collar bone. We wish Scotty a full and speedy recovery.

1st: Paul Whibley
2nd: Jimmy Jarrett
3rd: Nick Fahringer


Kenda Tires: Front, Triple. Rear, Millville

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

[Reckless]

Bloody good stuff another OMA championship!!

[denill]

Bloody good stuff another OMA championship!!

Yeah, looks like he's got the pace and the goods to do the job.

Will be good for his 2011 season.

[takitimu]

Backed up with another gncc win, was leading at the finish line for every lap, great for him to end a frustrating gncc season with some momentum and to be in a strong negotiating position with his team going into 2011.

[denill]

Anyone know what Whibs will be riding in '11?

[denill]

Race Report: GNCC Round 13, Crawfordsville IN

Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 1st

Another good start put me in a good position in the early going at the final GNCC of the season. Kailub Russell sneaked up the inside and took the hole shot honors but midway through lap one I had the lead. Conditions were really dusty and I'm not sure what happened to Kailub but I knew I was in front when I could see where I was going. The drought in the area really had spoiled the usually prime riding conditions found at this event.
Just before the halfway point in the race I managed to hit a tree on one of the tough powder filled hill climbs, looping the bike out, bending the bars and giving up a lot of the lead I had built.
I held onto the lead to the fuel stop but soon after came under pressure from Josh Strang. We swapped positions over the course of the following lap and he took his turn at the front. Although it was short lived as his bike suffered a similar fate to many others that day by ingesting too much dust.
I retook the lead and put it in cruise control to the finish. Looking after the bike, avoiding as many big powder berms as possible and taking my second win in a row. Great way to finish out the GNCC season and now I can look forward to a bit of a break before getting back into training for an assault at the 2011 GNCC title. With the win I moved up to 3rd overall for the year.
Big thanks to the AmPro team and all the sponsors. Also Katherine for her continued support, dedication and belief in me.


1st: Paul Whibley
2nd: Thad Duvall
3rd: Chris Bach

Thanks to John Gasso for the photo.


Kenda Tires: Front, Triple. Rear, Millville


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

[secondfield]

Excellent ! a podium for the man at least ..

[Katoomer]

Here's a good video of the race. You can see why Strang's bike died.

http://www.digitaloffroad.com/2010/1...cc-race-video/

[denill]

Race Report: Bush Bash 4 hour Twenty10

Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: Sargent Motorcycles, AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ 450
Result: 1st

My first race back in NZ was the annual Bush Bash 4 hour put on by the Bush Riders MCC. I had just got a new 2011 YZ 450, and had chucked a couple of the essentials on it the day before the race like my IMS tank, Vortex Ignition and G2 throttle cam.
Lining up on the start with the wind howling through the nearby trees, holding the back guard waiting for the shotgun blast. When the gun went off I jumped on and my YZ and launched toward turn one in the lead.
Conditions were slick green grass and a super strong westerly that made going treacherous. I wasn't too excited to lead the way early on so a few keen men took various turns up front. I led the way through the tree section out the back of the loop and pulled a lead on everyone but Rory Mead. Lap one completed in about 40 minutes. I continued for another lap while most others came into the pits to gas up and swap riders. I opened up a comfortable lead and rode pretty conservatively in the tough windy conditions. Gassing up after two laps with a safe lead that I protected to the finish. The new pine section was a blast and post race feedback was unanamous in that was the best section of the track. The new YZ worked great and am looking forward to some more fun races in NZ over the summer.
Thanks to Katherine and Ryan for their help in the pits.


1st: Paul Whibley
2nd: John Odea/ Lance Odea
3rd: Rory Mead/Conrad Edwards

Paul Whibley is supported in NZ by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, Ohlins, G2, CTi, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D, Bush Riders MCC,Spectro, Acerbis, DID, JT sprokets, GHQ, Pirelli, Sargent Motorcycles, Yamaha NZ.

[denill]

Race Report: Bush Riders Cross Country Series, Round 1
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: Sargent MC, AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450 F
Result: 1st


The first round of the Bush Riders Cross Country Series was held just south of my hometown, Pahiatua. Rain arrived a few days before the event and provided relief from the dusty conditions of late. Light drizzle was still falling early on race day but had cleared by the time the Junior race was underway. Around midday we lined up awaiting the shotgun blast that would signal the start.
When the gun went off the quiet valley erupted in a roar as bikes fired up and launched toward the first turn. I got a good start and was first through the gateway and onto the main track.
Conditions were slippery early on but my Pirelli’s found traction on even the slickest clay. I felt good and pushed hard enjoying the track as it cut up and lines formed. One gully was pretty soft and turned into a massive bog but with plenty of options it never bottle necked or got any bottomless ruts. Also a log crossing just out of the scoring area kept the pit crews and spectators entertained. There was an alternative line if anyone felt uncomfortable with traversing the log but had to suffer the ribbing from any of their mates watching post race.
At the gas stop Katherine handled the fueling with her brother Nathan handing over a fresh set of Smith rolloffs. I had a comfortable lead and could play it safe but continued to put in strong laps and consistent times. I sneeked through scoring just before the 2 hour cut off and got an extra lap up on the competition.
Another fun day at the track and good prep ahead of the 2011 season.

Paul Whibley is supported in NZ by:
AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, G2, CTi, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions, EC3D, Bush Riders MCC,Spectro, Acerbis, DID, JT sprockets, GHQ, Pirelli, Sargent Motorcycles, Yamaha NZ, Rossco’s Start Up Services