Word & photos by Shan Moore

After spending the last two months back home in New Zealand, Monster Energy athlete Paul Whibley has returned to North Carolina where he’s putting the final touches on his 2012 race program, one that will see him going for a fifth-straight OMA title, as well as chasing the GNCC title that barley eluded him last year.

Once again Whibs will be riding for Randy Hawkins’ Am-Pro Yamaha team on a YZ450F and sporting the #2 in the GNCC series, as well as the familiar #1 in the OMA’s. At 33, Whibley is by far the elder statesman of both series, but claims that if anything he gets better with age. For sure, the teenagers and twenty-somethings he goes head-to-head with each weekend could learn a thing or two from the crafty veteran, who also has a GNCC title to his credit.

We caught up with the Ax-man at his home away from home in North Carolina as he finished up one of his rigorous workouts.

Monster Energy: You went back home to New Zealand for the off-season. Were you able to take some time off?

Paul Whibley: Actually, I spent most of the time training and riding, but it was still a good break.

Monster Energy: Do you get in any racing when you’re back home, or do you just practice and train?

Paul Whibley: There are a few local series going on that I race while I’m home but the nationals start up after I leave to come back to America, so I miss out on those. We have a couple of big one-off races that I do; we have a four-hour race that I won this year. That race is usually a team race but I raced it solo to work on my conditioning. It was actually a pretty good race.

Monster Energy: Is the riding at home any different from what it’s like here?

Paul Whibley: The terrain is a little different back there. We have a lot more farmland for grazing cattle and sheep, so a lot of what we ride is fast and open. There’s a lot of grass and not many rocks so when I first came over here to race a few years ago it took me a while to get the hang of things. Now, I like the stuff over here better than what we have in New Zealand. The competition isn’t what it is here in the States, though. The racing is enjoyable back home but I like the racing over here much better now, with the tighter and more technical tracks.

Monster Energy: How are you feeling coming into the 2012 season?

Paul Whibley: I think I’m actually in pretty good shape coming into the year. We’re running basically the same bike I raced last year and we’ve made a few adjustments recently that I think are an improvement, so I think we’re in better shape as far as equipment goes. And as far as my fitness goes, I think I’m ready.

Monster Energy: I hate to say it but you’re no spring chicken; are up for the physical challenge this year?

Paul Whibley: I think I’m in as good a shape as I was in last year and I won a few races last year. My body feels fine and I don’t think I feel any effects from my age. Maybe I’m a little wiser and a little more cautious. But as far as being older, I don’t think I feel any ill effects. I’m racing kids who are 18 to 20 years old, and those guys are a little more likely to throw caution to the wind and take a few more chances.

Monster Energy: Have you changed anything up as far as how you approach the season?

Paul Whibley: Actually, I’ve changed a few little things as far as my training goes, just refining a few little things that we hope will improve my speed a little bit this year. But other than that, everything is pretty much the same.