Whibley won round five of this season's championship, the HangMan Cross Country in Hanging Limb, Tennessee, at the weekend, further stretching his lead at the top of the points standings and ensuring he is well on course to keep the crown he has held every year since he first won it in 2008.
"I got off to a good start and ran side by side with Russell Bobbitt going down the long start straight and into turn one," Whibley said.
"I had the inside line and Russell tried to out-brake me but went way too deep into the first turn. I hugged the inside and took the lead. Russell stayed right on my back wheel. That was the only way he could see through the dust in the early sections.
"My AmPro Yamaha team-mate, Jordan Ashburn, was riding the new WR450, getting some good seat time and working on his bike's set-up. He came through the pack after an average start and soon was closing in. In the third lap I made a mistake on a hill and had to dog-paddle up it."
Whibley said Ashburn was quick to pounce and slipped by as the riders crested the rocky climb.
"A couple miles later he stalled his bike and I shot back to the lead. I put my head down and tried to up the pace. Jordan was riding well and I needed to build a lead and maintain it even as the rain arrived and made the track quite slick.
"On the last lap I backed it down a little as it would have been all too easy to throw it away on a few of the fast, slick logging roads," Whibley said.
The Kiwi rider has extended his points lead in the title chase to 28 over Bobbitt and Nick Fahringer, the two Americans who are tied for second place.
Fahringer took second and Bobbitt third on the day. Fourth overall went to Daniel Janus, while Whibley's team-mate Ashburn ran out of fuel on the final lap. Whibley is supported by Monster Energy, Sargent Yamaha in Masterton, MotoSR suspension, BikesportNZ.com, Graphic MX Creation and Yamaha New Zealand.
