    |
 |
|
|
|
New Zealand’s Paul Whibley is continuing his storming run across America.
Whibley raced his way to fourth overall at round four of the United States Grand National Cross-Country Championships in South Carolina at the weekend.
The Honda rider from Pahiatua is now fifth in the XC1 Pro class standings, just 11 points behind series leader Garrett Edmisten (Florida, Kawasaki).
Red Bull KTM's David Knight (Isle of Man) won the day in South Carolina and the world enduro champion is now up to sixth in the series standings, just one point behind Whibley. The Kiwi ace has finished 21st, 1st, 8th and 4th in the rounds thus far.
Knight came from a bad start to track down the leaders and take his first career GNCC win on Sunday. He's the fourth winner in four rounds this season (Whibley won round two in Washington).
Knight started poorly, while Yamaha's Charlie Mullins grabbed the holeshot award and pulled a big, early lead. Knight eventually caught him, and the race was on.
Mullins’ team-mate Barry Hawk ended up third.
It was a fierce battle for fourth between a large group of riders, but Parts Unlimited/Moose Honda's Whibley dug deep to get the spot.
"I had a good battle there with Glenn (Kearney)," said Whibley. "We passed back and fourth on the last lap."
Kearney (Suzuki) finished fifth.
The big news before the race was that Australia's Shane Watts had made the switch from KTM to a Yamaha YZ250. Watts said he was comfortable on the bike, but he rode too conservatively and ended up losing a few positions and finishing eighth.
The GNCC series continues in two weeks with the Acerbis Loretta Lynn's GNCC in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
Results from round four of the GNCC, the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC, Union, South Carolina:
