Axeman Whibley too sharp for rest

Pahiatua Kawasaki rider Paul Whibley won his first Grand National cross country motor cycle title in Crawfordsville, Indiana on Monday morning (NZ time).
The 31-year-old former Manawatu forestry worker, who is known affectionately in bike racing circles as The Axeman, finished a conservative fourth in the 13th and final round of the championship, easily enough for him to collect the crown he had been threatening to take since the 2009 series kicked off in Florida in February.
"I just can't believe it," said Whibley who had been a close runner-up in 2008. "I don't have the words for this right now."
For Whibley winning the Grand National series was the ultimate goal and he did so through placing first in five of the 13 rounds, second on three occasions and third three times as well.
"It's been an amazing year working with my new Kawasaki team," he 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 mud."
With the championship at stake Whibley not surprisingly, elected to ride sensibly and take few risks in the final round.
On having a minor collision with American Thad Duvall early in the race he backed off to make sure he made it safely to the finish, where he was promptly presented with the No.1 plate for next season.
His fourth placing was more than enough for that to happen as he only needed to finish in the first 14 to take home the major spoils.