Pahiatua rider soars in US

New Zealand's Paul Whibley is on the charge.
The 33-year-old from Pahiatua has won the latest round of the Grand National Cross-country Championships in the United States and is starting to close in on the series leaders.
Whibley started the weekend third in the championship standings and remains in that position despite winning round round of 13 at Millfield, Ohio.
But, significantly, the Kiwi hero has shaved nine points off the lead and is now just 32 points shy of the top spot, held by the defending champion, Australian Josh Strang.
Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) has now recorded more race wins than any other rider, with three from seven starts, while the pair ahead of him in the standings, Strang and US rider Charlie Mullins, have just two wins each.
The Ohio race had a dramatic finish, Whibley launching his bike off a huge double jump to fly past American Kailub Russell near the finish and snatch victory.
Whibley had taken the lead at the start, claiming the $250 holeshot award in the process, and led for most of the three-hour contest.
However, heading into the final hour, Russell caught up as the two became locked in a battle that would see them trade the lead several times in the next two laps.
Russell held the advantage heading into the circuit's motocross section for the final time, the high-speed section which made up the last few hundred metres of the course.
However, with two turns to go, Whibley made his move with the spectacular pass. Third overall was Strang, with Mullins fourth and fellow American Cory Buttrick fifth.
Round eight is at Unadilla, near New York, on September 11.