Pahiatua's Whibley takes US title

New Zealand's Paul Whibley is No1 in the United States.

The Pahiatua rider ran off with his first Grand National Cross-Country Championship (GNCC) title when the series wrapped up in Crawfordsville, Indiana on Monday morning.

The 31-year-old former Manawatu forestry worker – known affectionately in bike racing circles as The Axeman – finished a conservative fourth overall in the 13th and final round of the series.

That was easily enough for him to collect the crown he'd been threatening to take since the series kicked off in Florida in February.

"I just can't even believe it," said Whibley (Kawasaki KX450F), who finished a close runner-up in the championship last season.

"I don't have the words for this right now. This is my ultimate goal, to win the GNCC Championship in the US."

The day was won by American KTM rider Nate Kanney, his first outright win in a season that was dominated by Whibley from the start.

With the championship at stake, Whibley rode sensibly during the final round.

When he had a collision with American Thad Duvall early in the race, the Kiwi backed off to play it safe until the end, where he was promptly presented with the No1 plate.

So commanding was Whibley's championship lead that he only had to finish inside the top 14 to win.

He won five of the 13 rounds, and was runner-up three times and third on three occasions.

"It's been an amazing year working with my new Kawasaki team," Whibley said.

"I couldn't have asked for better. This is my job, this is what I live for, and this is the ultimate payback for all that hard work and training in the rain and the mud.

"The GNCC is the pinnacle of cross-country racing in the world.

"I came here from [racing the world enduro championships in] Europe, and this is my style of racing."