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The news is that Paul Whibley is switching brands. He is reported to have signed with KTM and this weekend will be riding that Marque in the National Enduro Round at Gwavas, Hawkes Bay. A four stroke 450EXC.
In October he is scheduled to ride in an event at Zschopau in north-eastern Germany, where he finished second in the 400cc class last year. If all goes well, Paul could just feature in KTM`s 2003 world championship campaign.
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THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
WHIBLEY TO RIDE FOR KTM FACTORY:
New Zealand's top cross-country motorcycle racer Paul Whibley has stepped up his career, agreeing to race for the powerful KTM brand internationally and in New Zealand.
The reigning national champion in enduro and cross-country, 24-year-old Whibley is riding the orange KTM machines now in preparation for an important international race in Germany next month.
He will defend his New Zealand enduro title on a four-stroke KTM 450 this weekend in what is being regarded an ideal match-up: the country's top rider and the largest maker of off-road motorcycles in the world.
Whibley, a farm and forestry worker from Marton south of Wanganui, flies to Europe in mid October after he was approached by the powerful factory race team from Austria.
The event at Zschopau in north-eastern Germany, outside Chemnitz near the legendary Colditz Castle, attracts most of the top riders from the world championships.
"I rode the same event last year and finished second in the 400 class," explained Whibley today. "Now KTM have said they would like to have a look at me on a fully-supported factory bike, with a view to discussing their 2003 world championship campaign after that. "For the New Zealand champs I'm riding the four-stroke KTM 450EXC, which is a new model this year replacing the 400. "It's a very serious racing bike and I believe it will be more than competitive," said Whibley, current Australian 600cc four-stroke enduro champion and a past gold medal winner at motorcycling's olympics ISDE.
Whibley is being supported by the New Zealand KTM importer, Heytrack NZ Ltd.
"Paul is clearly New Zealand's leading rider," said Heytrack Director Paul Ottaway. "We are delighted, not just to have him on KTM in New Zealand, but to see him further his career at world level where KTM is so successful."
Enduro and cross-country racing is a long-circuit version of motocross; the talented Whibley will also race KTM in New Zealand motocross events.
"I'll probably use a two-stroke for motocross," he commented. "We'll make a decision on that when I come back from Germany."
KTM is the brand on which young New Zealand motocross sensation Ben Townley has leapt to international prominence this year, and on which Shayne King won a world motocross title in 1996.
Short profile:
Name: Paul Whibley
Age: 24
Place Of Residence: Marton, NZ
Occupation: Farm/Forestry Worker
Years Racing: 9 Years
Current Bike: KTM 450 EXC
Highlights:
2002 Australia 600cc 4 stroke Enduro Champion
2002, 2001 NZ Cross Country Champion
2001, 2000 NZ Enduro Champion
1st 250 2-stroke Australian 4 Day Enduro August 2001
October 2001, 2nd 400cc 4 stroke at Zschopau, Germany
Gold Medal at 1998 ISDE
Ian Miles.
