High Fives – Kristian Whatley

Posted by Ray | 7 May 2009 | Comment

After narrowly missing out on winning the British Under 21 championship in 2008 with CCM 19 year old Kristian Whatley, the son of former British GP Legend Jeremy Whatley, made wholesale changes for 2009 starting the season on a 450cc Hanson Kawasaki but he has now joined the LPE Kawasaki Team, so we caught up with him at Brampton for a High Five’s to see how things are with him.

MOTO – You started the season on a Kawasaki with support from Greg Hanson but recently you have switched to the official Kawasaki UK team, LPE Kawasaki, how did that move come about?
“Well I was with Greg Hanson and we had support from a few other people but Kawasaki came along and said that they wanted to do some sort of deal so we got things all sorted together and it all came into one.”

MOTO – Since riding out of the LPE awning you’ve had a 1^ST overall at the MMX Open, a 2^ND overall in the British Masters and then last week a 1^st overall at the 2 stroke championships, so everyone involved must be pretty pleased with how things are going?
“Yeah, definitely, it’s been going really well so far. With the way my results have been going I might be getting some better deals soon and the more I ride the bike the better I seem to be getting.”

MOTO – After having a successful 2008 on a 250f, how come you made the decision to move up on to a 450 for 2009?
“Just because I think it suit’s my smooth riding style a bit better and I like having the extra power to work with, I loving it so far.”

MOTO – Have you stepped up your training in any way to help adapt to the 450?
“Yeah definitely, you’ve got to step things up if you’re riding the 450, I’m working with a guy called Julian Clarke this year and I’ve got British superbike rider Leon Cramier as my training buddy, and its hard work but it’s all going really well.”

MOTO – Where do you hope to be in the championship when all is done and dusted at the end of the season?
“I’m want to be in the top 5 at the Maxxis and in the top 3 at the MMX Open and the British Masters, simple as that!”