For FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series didn’t get off to a good start. A crash and resulting sore shoulder at the opening round put Russell out of the Florida race way too soon, but ever since, Russell has been unstoppable. A win a The General GNCC in Georgia a few days later and now a win the Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, North Carolina, April 1, has put Russell right back into the race for the 2012 GNCC Championship.
Kailub Russell captured the overall win at the Steele Creek GNCC in North Carolina.
Russell made a few quick passes on series rivals Paul Whibley and Charlie Mullins and ran off with his second straight win.
Although he wasn’t on the second bike to take the checkered flag, KTM rider and XC2 Pro Lites winner Stewart Baylor Jr. was credited with second overall after nipping third overall and second XC1 Pro rider Whibley by just one second. Baylor, the defending class champ, has won all three XC2 Pro Lites rounds.
Fourth overall went to third-place XC1 Pro rider Cory Buttrick, on the FMF/KTM, who finished about 50 seconds behind Whibley.
Rounding out the top five overall was fourth XC1 Pro-class rider Shenandoah Honda/Offroadchampion’s Thad DuVall.
Mullins, the defending XC1 Pro-class Championship, eventually dropped back to seventh overall, one spot behind Jordan Ashburn, on the AmPro Yamaha. Mullins later said that he was suffering health problems that robbed him of his energy.
Jesse Robinson (Husaberg), second in XC2 Pro Lites, Garrett Edmisten (Kawasaki) and Jimmy Jarrett (Honda) rounded out the top 10 overall.
RESULTS
OVERALL
1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
2. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM) – XC2 Pro Lites
3. Paul Whibley (Yam)
4. Cory Buttrick (KTM)
5. Thad DuVall (Yam)
6. Garrett Edmisten (Kaw)
7. Charlie Mullins (KTM)
8. Jesse Roginson (Hbg) – XC2 Pro Lites
9. Garrett Edmisten (Kaw)
10. Jimmy Jarrett (Hon).
