Am-Pro/FMF Yamaha’s Paul Whibley kicked off the second half of the Parts Unlimited Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals by winning the Maxxis Spring Creek Grand Prix at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville, Minnesota, yesterday, August 1. It marked his third consecutive series triumph and allowed him to edge past race runner-up Scott Watkins in series points for the first time this season, 144-142, unofficially.
“Yeah, it’s where I would have liked to have been earlier on in the series, but it’s been good [lately],” the two-time and defending series champion declared. “We’ve had some bad luck [in the first two rounds] and now [we’re] working our way back to the front. I guess it’s good to be hitting the second half of the season with the lead.”
Whibley didn’t lead every inch of the way. Off the start, he got into the first turn at the head of the pack but got sideways, with privateer Cooper Bailey taking advantage to stay on the gas and get the $200 K&N Filters Holeshot Award aboard his Jesus Christ/Scott Bailey/Factory Performance-backed KX450F.
But Whibley quickly recovered and shot into the lead for good a short time later and seemingly never put a wheel wrong the rest of the way on his Yamalube/Monster Energy/MSR YZ450F. (Bailey, unfortunately, cased a triple on the first lap which put the handlebar almost in his lap and he struggled until he made a few adjustments, ultimately finishing sixth Pro, seventh overall.)
Watkins tried gamely to keep “Whibs” in sight, but the Yamaha racer proved just a bit quicker and inched away as the race progressed. JG Off-road/GEICO Powersports/Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Watkins thus saw his series points lead slip out of his hands, though not by much. His runner-up finish keeps him close to Whibley, 144-142, unofficially.
Husaberg’s Nick Fahringer claimed third after working his way around Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Jordan Ashburn as the race entered its second half, with Ashburn holding on for fourth.
Jake Fiddler easily topped the Open A division and claimed fifth overall aboard his Johnnysigns.com KX450F ahead of Pros Adam Bonneur and Bailey. Even more laudable, Michael Williams earned his fifth Lite A victory of the series and finished eighth overall aboard his Barry Heath Racing KX250F–in his first race since a crash while practicing required removal of his spleen five weeks ago.
Jimmy Jarrett didn’t fare as well on his return from injury as the victim of a hit-and-run incident three weeks ago. Though he got a good start and was third on the first lap, his forced layoff caught up with him and he would park it after about an hour. Thad Duvall also found himself on the sidelines early, reportedly the victim of a coolant leak.
Steve Leivan won 30-39 A and was ninth overall with Open A runner-up Tim Nienow rounding out the top 10 overall, both aboard WR450Fs.
