New Zealand's Paul Whibley has a battle on his hands but, for the time being at least, he still leads the Grand National Cross-Country Championship standings in the United States.
The Yamaha ace from Pahiatua won the opening round of the series in Florida in March and has managed podium finishes at each of the following rounds, settling for runner-up spot at round four of the series in Union, South Carolina, last weekend.
Former Manawatu forestry worker Whibley snatched the lead at the start in South Carolina, but it was American youngster Kailub Russell who set the early pace, leading 2009 champion Whibley and 2011 champion Charlie Mullins through the opening stages.
As the race progressed, Russell managed to pull away from Mullins and Whibley, who were locked in a fierce duel of their own.
Then Mullins and Whibley struck problems, each of them in turn getting stuck in a deep mud hole and losing valuable time as they extricated themselves.