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Whibley carves up the competition at GNCC Round 10
Race Report: Unadilla GNCC Round 10
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: JG Offroad, GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki
Bike: Kawasaki KX450f
Result: 1st
The famed Unadilla facility was the venue for the return to GNCC racing after the summer break. Typical Unadilla conditions consist of mud and copious amounts of rain, this year however the track was watered to perfection. The racers were ready to get back into it and show how hard they had been working in the break.
Off the line I got a good jump and was in a good position in turn one. Charlie Mullins went down just in front of me but I was able to squeeze past on the inside and was in third round turn two. I moved up a position but stuck the front end in a hole on the down side of a drop off and completed a perfect 10 point summer sult. Picking my bike up near the back of the pack I found myself running just behind Charlie. We were both pushing hard and soon worked our way up through the pack and by mid lap were back in touch with the lead group. After a couple of laps I had worked my way up to the lead but the earlier crash had splashed sweat on the inside of my goggles and I began to have vision issues. Also I had a small hold up on one of the rocky hills when a lapped rider crashed in front of me. Evasive action saw me stuck but the guy who crashed in front of me gave me a push and got me moving again. Thanks dude!! I had dropped back a little and had to come in a lap earlier than required for the pit stop and some fresh goggles. With improved sight I set about chasing down the lead again. Nate Kanney had made a break for it and built a small lead. With a new set of Smith roll offs on dealing with the drizzle that had began to fall I set about reeling in Nate. I had a battle with Josh Strang on my way to the front that lasted through to the second pit stop.
With team boss JT away at Enduro X duty, Mark stepped up and took command and control of the gassing up duty's and did a great job. Katherine and Scotty had the spare goggles and any fine tuning covered in the pit stops.
As the race wore down it came down to Nate and me. We pushed hard and swapped positions a few times over the last couple of laps but by the last lap I had the lead and had opened up a small buffer that I was determined not to loose.
Taking the win and extending the points lead was the best way to come back after the break.
1st: Paul Whibley
2nd: Nate Kanney
3rd: Kurt Casselli
Thanks to my Sponsors:
JG Offroad, GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Moose Racing, Shoei, Smith, Sidi, RG3, Ohlins USA, Moto SR, Pirelli, LeoVince, No Toil, CTi, Enduro Engineering, Renthal, Pro Moto Billet/Fastway, IMS, Vortex ignitions, G2, PG Graphics, EBC Brakes, Tsubaki Chains, WER, BRP, Recluse, CV4, Silkolene, Works Connection, Motion Pro
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