Major scare for Whibley

Motorcross

Pahiatua's Paul Whibley came second in round four of the Off Road Motorcycle and ATV (OMA) series at Fort Smith in Arkansas after surviving a nearby lightning strike.

'The long drive from South Carolina was pretty uneventful, right up until just after we pulled into the pits," said Whibley.

"We parked up and got out and noticed some dark clouds were moving ominously overhead. There was a cracking in the air and then a massive bang. Lightning struck the ground on the other side of the pits.

"Several people had their hair standing on end and the ambulance was called for someone put into shock by the surge going through the ground. From what I heard they were okay, after their hair had stopped smouldering I guess."

Aiming to take out the OMA series for an incredible fifth consecutive time, Whibley's second placing was a welcome improvement on previous efforts this season.

He led through the early part of the race but then took a wrong turn which cost him time. However, he quickly regained momentum to charge back to the front of the field, only to have Nick Fahringer overtake him and open up a 40-second lead. From there the challenge for Whibley was to bridge the gap but try as he might he was unable to do so and Fahringer secured his first OMA win.

Whibley is defending champion in the OMA and the Grand National Cross-Country Championships and there were further frustrations for him when he contested round seven of the latter at Millfield, Ohio.

His latest adventure was another example of a missed opportunity to capitalise on an excellent start.

"I was a little gutted to end up fourth after being in contention for a podium finish all race," he said.

The next round of the GNCC series is at West Virginia on June 16.