Russell On A Roll in GNCC
Cycle News Staff | March 16, 2015
The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series traveled to Washington, Georgia for round two of the championship, and once again, it was all Kailub Russell. The FMF/KTM rider conquered the Georgia mud to take his second victory in as many rounds. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang once again took second place while another Husky-mounted rider rounded out the podium – Rocky Mountain ATV/MC FAR Racing’s Thad DuVall.
Russell nearly led the entire charge aside from some first-lap issues that dropped him to fourth place. AirGroup Husqvarna’s Sipes enjoyed some time out front in the early going, but also unfortunately ran into ran into trouble when he got stuck in a mud hole on the second lap. After losing considerable time, Sipes played catch-up for the remainder of the race, eventually going on to finish 10th.
It wasn’t smooth sailing for second-place finisher Strang, either, as the former champion tangled with a lapper and damaged his front brake rotor. Fortunately a quick front-wheel change got him back on track, and back into second place.
DuVall made his way up from outside the top-five to round out the podium. He battled N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn for third-place, but DuVall’s late-race charge earned him the point. Ashburn finished fourth after battling with JCR Honda’s Chris Bach, who rounded out the top-five.
In the XC2 Pro Lites division, it was an exciting battle between Jason Thomas and Nick Davis. The pair went back and forth all day but in the end, it was Davis who took the checkers first. Trevor Bollinger rounded out the XC2 podium in third.
Georgia GNCC XC1 Results
1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
2. Josh Strang (HSQ)
3. Thad DuVall (HSQ)
4. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
5. Chris Bach (HON)
6. Grant Baylor (YAM)
7. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
8. Tyler Medaglia (HSQ)
9. Adam Bonneur (KTM)
10. Ryan Sipes (HSQ)
XC2 Pro Lites Results:
1. Jason Thomas (KTM)
2. Nick Davis (HSQ)
3. Trevor Bollinger (KTM)
4. Craig Delong (HSQ)
5. Layne Michael (HON)
6. Cory Buttrick (BET)
7. Justin Sode (BET)
8. Sam Evans (KTM)
9. Callan May (YAM)
10. Brad Bakken (YAM)
