Whibley GNCC

**takitimu** · 12th May 2008, 14:01

Real nice result for Whib's & the Suzuki team, been a good season for the 450-EFI's.

**denill** · 13th May 2008, 06:57

Whibs second win in GNCC - as just as modest.

Race Report: Rnd 6 GNCC Ohio
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: FMF Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RMZ 450
Result: 1st

What a race. The conditions were horrible, the mortality rate was extreme and the finishers list was short. One team stood out in the slop. Team FMF Suzuki swept the podium. I took home the win, Josh Strang was second and Jimmy Jarrett completed the yellow domination.

It was a strange race with riders being covered in head to toe mud, it was hard to pick out who was who.
I got a good start but collided with someone on the first turn and got stood up, losing my position. I got completely filled in early in the lap and removed my goggles. Riders were going down like flies, crashing, getting stuck, or drowning their bike in the deep water filled ruts.

My gloves got covered in the slick clay mud and I soon struggled with the controls. At the end of lap 1, I pulled into the pits for gloves and goggles. I was told I had a good lead over Josh and Jimmy but I didn't work out that they meant I was leading the race. Lap 2 completed and I was in for gloves and goggles again, this time it was confirmed to me that I was leading. The track was cutting up bad and lines were forming everywhere, it was a real lottery to try a new line if it would be faster and safe, or slower and impassable. On the third lap I was directed around some bottleneck and ended up completely lost. By the time I found the track again I had dropped to 4th. I didn't know who was in front and how much time I had lost.

After gassing I was told Nate Kanney was just in front of me. I caught and passed him quickly but he got me back later in the lap on a better line. I caught him again and made a pass when he had bike problems and came to a stop. Two laps to go and Knighter was having problems. I must have passed him out on the track somewhere, but it was hard to tell who was who by now, it didn't help that my eyes were so full of mud everything had a brown tinge. Last lap I got a pit board "Josh 50 sec".
I thought this meant that he was catching me. So I pinned it, thinking I was in third and not wanting to let go of the final podium spot.

At one point I thought I saw Josh behind me and thought "shit he has caught me". I rode as hard as I could to the end, crossing the line to cheers from the crowd. Katherine told me I had won. I was stunned, it seemed unreal.
After the race I was told Josh had been leading and that I must have passed him somewhere and that Knighter had dropped right back with bike problems.

Big thanks to the Suzuki team for all their support. My mechanic Dan for doing a great job with the bike and Katherine for keeping it all together.

Full Results:

**denill** · 13th May 2008, 07:08

That fabulous effort has resulted in Whibs Moving Up To Second Overall!!

**raglanash** · 13th May 2008, 09:32

Pictures are up. Some classic mud shots!! Go Whibs!!
You know he passed me once......... haha.
http://www.gnccracing.com/photos/200...onBikes/album/

**denill** · 13th May 2008, 10:19

Originally Posted by raglanash

Pictures are up. Some classic mud shots!! Go Whibs!!
You know he passed me once......... haha.
http://www.gnccracing.com/photos/200...onBikes/album/

Thanks for the pics Mate.

Mud? Just a normal Pahiatua off road event. No wonder Whibs won it

**raglanash** · 15th May 2008, 08:47

Interview here.
http://www.racerpress.com/newsmanage...es/?a=703&z=15

**denill** · 15th May 2008, 09:12

Originally Posted by raglanash

Interview here.
http://www.racerpress.com/newsmanage...es/?a=703&z=15

That was a great read, thanks.

Whibs is to my mind quite a legend. Quiet and unassuming, he just does the business. Here he has done it on a BIG stage..............

Just another of the HUGELY unsung motorcycle sport heroes in New Zealand.

**raglanash** · 15th May 2008, 10:55

Originally Posted by denill

That was a great read, thanks.

Whibs is to my mind quite a legend. Quiet and unassuming, he just does the business. Here he has done it on a BIG stage..............

Just another of the HUGELY unsung motorcycle sport heroes in New Zealand.

Yeah ya gotta love the modest guy eh. This article was also on racerx website, he will be getting heaps of press now and a good rep with the yanks. Great for next season getting sponsors etc, hope he cracks it!
Raced him once in the Raglan rocx, passed me on the 6th lap, i hung on for 4 corners then he was gone, those fast guys really put it on the line eh, fully committed and they keep it up all day long, mucho mucho respect.
They are on a whole other level.

**jimmy 2006** · 15th May 2008, 11:07

communication in the pits seems a bit dodgy??

**denill** · 15th May 2008, 12:16

Originally Posted by raglanash

This article was also on racerx website, he will be getting heaps of press now and a good rep with the yanks. Great for next season getting sponsors etc, hope he cracks it!

I have been given to understand (to my surprise) that unlike the MX guys, he gets paid shit. Even as a Suzuki rider????

Any one know more?

**denill** · 27th May 2008, 07:49

Race Report: Rnd 3 OMA xc series

Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: FMF Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RMZ 450
Result: 1st

The whole FMF Suzuki team was out in force again at rnd 3 of the OMA series and this time we were joined by most of the Factory KTM riders.
Off the line I got a good jump and came out of turn one in second behind Jimmy Jarrett and missed out on the $200 dollar holeshot by about a wheel. In the grass track section before we dropped into the woods I moved into the lead. I was riding comfortable and enjoying the fresh trails.
For those of you who are not familiar with the OMA races, the trails are mostly marked out by walking through the woods with a staple gun and banging arrows to trees. So as the race progresses the trails improve, become more visable, and cut up with some nice ruts.

Part way through lap one in the tight section I missed a turn and ran wide into some vines and undergrowth allowing Nate Kanney on his KTM 300 to take over up front. Nate led most of the lap but I regained the lead after I jumped past him over a creek. The bike was handling well with the freshly serviced RG3 suspension and I was able to hold a good pace and pulled a small lead on lap 2. I knew I had to gas at the end of lap 3 so I put the hammer down and the lead grew. I was able to gas and come back out still holding a small gap over Jimmy Jarrett who had moved passed Nate.

I lost the lead near the end of lap 4 when my chain came off. I got going again and caught Jimmy quickly and moved back into position one. I made the mistake of hitting the same line on the next lap and derailed my chain again. I'm not sure what was in that rut but I avoided it like fried cheese on a stick for the rest of the race. I got the chain back on and chased Jimmy down, repassing him I worked on building a buffer. I had built a 40 second lead with a lap to go and pushed that out to over a minute by the finish. Taking my first win in the OMA series.

I was happy to win one of these races, as I have always considered racing in tight woods one of the areas that I needed to improve on to race at the top level in America.

Results.
1st, Paul Whibley, Suzuki RMZ 450
2nd, Jimmy Jarrett, Suzuki RM250
3rd, Nate Kanney, KTM 300
4th, Brian Garrahan, Yamaha YZ 450