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So far, the 2007 GNCC series has lived up to its wild expectations. Parts Unlimited/Moose Honda rider Paul Whibley, from Pahiatua in New Zealand, finally put in his breakthrough ride, which resulted in a victory last weekend - his first ever GNCC win.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country is America's premier off-road racing series. The 13-round race series stretches through the eastern US, starting with the season-opener in Florida in March and concluding with the season-finale in Indiana in October.
Paul Whibley, who finished fifth in the series last year, tells the story:
Race Report. Rnd 2 GNCC
Rider. Paul Whibley
Team. Moose,Parts Unlimited, Honda
Bike. Honda CRFX 450
The familiar sight of Washington, Georgia brought memories of last years race flooding back. Its funny how things trigger the mind to action.
The course for this years GNCC used the same block of land but had incorporated some new stuff. A triple tyre jump had been built right before the finish line and the small section of the MX track that we use had been reversed.
Of the start I got a shocker. I double-kicked the bike and came round the first corner in second-to-last. I worked my way forward and passed a bunch of guys on a line I had seen some riders in the morning race use.
Conditions were good with not much dust and few bogs. I dropped in behind Aussie Josh Strang on lap one and followed him most of the lap. I was conscious of not pushing too hard and pumping up; I wanted to ride relaxed and let someone show me the way.
Just before the scoring tent I got a pit board signaling that I was up to 11th. Lap 2 I could feel my arms loosen up and I began to make some passes.
The bike was going sweet and the RG3 suspension was working. I moved up through the field and got a pit board saying I was up to 5th.
At the beginning of lap 3 Glen Kearny was leading and was about 50 seconds in front of me. Late in lap 3 I caught and passed him. The cool thing was I didn't know he was leading and I didn't know I had just taken the lead.
I missed my pit board that lap and was just racing on, looking for the next rider in front of me. On lap 4 I came into the pits to gas up, Glen passed me back, and I was back down to 2nd. But in the confusion of a pit stop no one told me I had been leading and Glen had just retaken the lead.
I left the pits and just rode how I had been all race. I caught Glen in less than half a lap and pulled away. With 2 laps remaining in the race I had a 20 second lead.
I got the pit board saying I was out front. At first it didn't sink in and I thought I must have read it wrong. Then I started to notice the crowd was cheering a lot as I passed.
I got another pit board later that confirmed that I was in first place. At the start of the last lap I had about 1 min 20 sec lead. I decided to play it safe and backed it down a little. Took the chequers with a bit over a min and a half lead.
I was so stoked, I was also stunned, I could hardly believe I had just won.
A big thanks to Scott and Morrie and the rest of the pit crew. Also a big thanks to all the sponsors:
Moose, Parts Unlimited, Honda, Pro Honda oils, RG3, WER, EK chains, Sunstar, Pirelli, Powersport Grafx, Braking, CTi, Alpinestar, Wiseco, Thumper racing, Cycra, Smith, Honda Riders Club America, Tire Balls, Tag, IMS, Motion Pro, Moto SR, Stringfellows
