Rider-Paul Whibley
Rider Website-www.paulwhibley.co.nz
Bike-Yamaha YZ450F
Hometown-Dannevike, New Zealand
Answer- Picking lines at GNCC's can be tough as the track is constantly changing and evolving. With the amount of riders passing through lap after lap, lines change and ruts can become bottomless quickly. I try to walk the track and look for spots I expect to become difficult. But then, again, it's changed so much by the time we get to ride. I try to anticipate how much it will change and look for alternative lines that may open up or that may allow me to get around a bottle neck should one form.
Once into the race, when approaching a known problem area I'm looking well ahead, ready with a plan should the track be blocked. The old story of use the sides of the track, and get out of the main line still works at a lot of races, but often those edges are well and truly used up by the afternoon race at a GNCC. When coming up on a mud hole or a section with deep ruts, look for a clean, straight line. Often crooked ruts indicate something hidden like roots or logs in the mud. Avoid ruts that previously had someone stuck in them. If they got stuck, you will most likely as well. Its amazing how many riders blindly plow into a poor line that someone just got dragged out of. Another way to avoid getting wedged in deep ruts is cross them at a 90 degree angle. This also involves some thought and will require a different approach to the trouble spot. Often lines change during the course of an event and you may catch sight of a good line reentering the main line. I try to remember and store that information away for the following lap. Sometimes the fastest thing to do is stop and take a second to look around for a good line. That one second could save you minutes dragging your bike out. If you do end up in a bad line with deep ruts or really soft mud, commitment is your last hope. Use as much pace as you can safely carry through the obstacle.
