Print
Off-Road | 9/16/2009
Kawasaki's Whibley Extends Points Lead With Win at Unadilla
Kawasaki's Whibley Extends Points Lead With Win at Unadilla Irvine, Calif. - Kawasaki's Paul Whibley extended his points lead with a come from behind win during the 10th round of the GNCC series at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, N.Y. The long summer break didn't seem to bother Whibley, who now holds a 27 point lead over second place. Teammate Jimmy Jarrett was still recovering after he broke his wrist during an OMA National round in July and finished seventh. In the XC2 class, Scott Watkins finished just off the podium in fourth after a solid ride.
Fourth Win Whibley put in a hard charge to come from the back of the pack to earn his fourth GNCC win of the season.

"I got a good jump, but then stuck the front end in a hole and did a perfect flip off the bike," said Whibley. "I got going again near the back, pushing hard with Charlie (Mullins) who also went down. We were both pushing hard and soon worked our way up through the pack. I was having vision issues after my crash and pitted early. By the last few laps, it was down to me and Nate (Kanney) and I eventually pulled a little gap to the finish."
Points Lead Extended With only three races left in the series, Whibley extended his 13 point lead to a sizeable 27.

"Taking the win and extending the points lead was the best way to come back after the break," said Whibley. "I have been really concentrating on taking it race by race and I hope to continue that in North Carolina."
On the Mend Jarrett showed great speed during the race, even leading at one point, but the pain of his healing wrist made it hard to hold on for the last half of the race. His showing wasn't without courage as he still finished an impressive seventh.

"I am at about 80 percent with my wrist right now," said Jarrett. "It doesn't seem too bad, but during the last half of the race it gets really sore. I'm happy that I was able to ride up in the top-five for most of the race. I just couldn't hang on to the bike at the end. I'm definitely concentrating on getting stronger and I'm back sooner than I expected so overall I'm happy."
Just Off the Podium With a slew of consistent finishes under his belt, Watkins came into the race feeling ready for another good result. He had his work cut out for him at the start, when he couldn't get his bike started right away and had to push hard toward the front pack. By the end of the first lap, he was in sixth, eventually making it up to fourth for the day.

"It's never fun to start in the back, but I just pushed it as hard as I could to make up the time," said Watkins. "By the pit stop I was in fourth. Since I had a good gap on fifth and third was about two minutes out, I had to push myself without anyone else around. By the end, I closed the gap to 20 seconds. If there was one more lap, I think I would have got him."
OMA Champ With an off weekend before the next GNCC race, Whibley, Watkins, and Jarrett will be heading to Missouri for the penultimate round of the OMA National series. With Whibley clinching the championship at the last round, Watkins and Jarrett have the opportunity to make it a Kawasaki sweep in the championship with good rides at the next two rounds.
Results Grand National Cross Country Series
Unadilla MX - New Berlin, N.Y.
September 13, 2009

XC1 Results
1. PAUL WHIBLEY, NEW ZEALAND, KAWASAKI
2. Nathan Kanney, High Falls, N.Y., KTM
3. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM
4. Charles Mullins, Hamilton, Ohio, Suzuki
5. Josh Strang, Hickory, N.C., Suzuki
6. Barry Hawk, Jr., Smithfield, Pa. Yamaha
7. JIMMY JARRETT, SALEM, OHIO, KAWASAKI
8. Ben Bouwens, Newark, N.Y., Yamaha
9. Ryan Gainey, Southhampton, N.J., Honda
10. Adam Reeves, Salem, Ohio, Yamaha

XC2 Pro Lites Results
1. Kailub Russell, Kingston, Ohio, KTM
2. Cory Buttrick, Logan, Ohio, KTM
3. Jason Thomas, United Kingdom, Yamaha
4. SCOTT WATKINS, LEETONIA, OHIO, KAWASAKI
5. Jake Korn, Brookeline, N.H., KTM
6. David Snyder, Navarre, Ohio, Yamaha
7. ERIC BAILEY, KING GEORGE, VA., KAWASAKI
8. ROBERT SANTHESON III, PLYMOUTH, MASS., KAWASAKI
9. Brian Lawson, Adams, Mass., Yamaha
10. NATHAN ALERING, CINCINNATI, OHIO, KAWASAKI

XC1 Point Standings
1. PAUL WHIBLEY, NEW ZEALAND, KAWASAKI, 244
2. Josh Strang, Hickory, N.C., Suzuki, 217
3. Charles Mullins, Hamilton, Ohio, Suzuki, 215
4. JIMMY JARRETT, SALEM, OHIO, KAWASAKI, 174
5. Nathan Kanney, High Falls, N.Y., KTM, 164
6. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM, 142
7. Barry Hawk, Jr., Smithfield, Pa. Yamaha, 138
8. KENNETH GILBERT, TAVARES, FLA., KAWASAKI, 97
9. Jesse Robinson, Connelly Springs, NC, Husaberg, 97
10. Glenn Kearney, Antioch, Calif., HSQ, 97

Share