Chris Bach put the JCR Racing/Lucas Oil Honda on the top of the box at the Tomahawk GNCC in New York. (Photography by Ken Hill)
JCR Racing/Lucas Oil Honda’s Chris Bach put the skids on Kailub Russell’s bid for the perfect GNCC season after winning the Tomahawk GNCC in Odessa, New York, May 10.
Russell came into the sixth round of the series having won the previous five, most of those with little challenge, but something didn’t click for Russell at the new venue near Watkins Glen. Russell found himself in his usual position—out in front—after taking over from previous leader Thad DuVall after the first lap. However, Russell couldn’t keep his FMF/KTM there. Instead, he struggled with suspension set-up and couldn’t get a flow going on the dry and dusty racecourse. By the midway point, Russell had company after Bach had worked his way up from a sixth-place start.
In contrast, Bach, on his Honda CRF450R, was flowing on the slick course and, after a few back-and-forth scraps with Russell, pulled away and took the win with about a minute and a half to spare. It was a GNCC first win for both Bach and the JCR Racing team.
After the race, Bach said that he simply stuck to his game plan and rode his own race from start to finish, while Russell admitted, “I didn’t have it in me. My bike wasn’t set up for this.”
Still, it was a profitable day for Russell who still managed to stretch out his already massive points lead over second-in-points Josh Strang, who did not finish the race.
AirGroup/Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes, the former pro motocrosser, took advantage of the dusty conditions and filled out the podium in third.
Grant Baylor (Yamaha) and Andrew DeLong (Husqvarna) rounded out the top five in the XC1 class.
The Tomahawk race had its fair share of casualties. N-Fab AmPro Yamaha riders Jordan Ashburn and Daniel Milner dropped out, as did Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna’s Strang, who came into the race having dislocated his shoulder earlier in the week. He pulled out after a few laps but was credited with 10th place. His teammate, Thad DuVall, crashed out of the race with a knock to the head, bruised ribs and a hip injury. He was credited with ninth place. KTM rider Steward Baylor retired during the first lap after losing the motor.
DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM KTM rider Jason Thomas won the XC2 Pro Lites division. He took over the lead on the second lap and pulled away despite an ill-running bike, which he believed was because of dirty intake reeds.
There was a new face on the XC2 Pro Lites podium. Pennsylvania’s Tegan Temple, on the Ride On Cycle/Moto Playground KTM, finished second, well ahead of Honda rider Layne Michael. Ricky Russell (Yamaha) and Trevor Bollinger (KTM) completed the top five in class.
In the Women’s class, Kacy Martinez (KTM) returned to her winning ways, taking the checkered flag about two-and-a-half minutes ahead of previous-round winner Jessica Patterson (Yamaha). Brooke Cosner (Husqvarna) was third.
Tomahawk GNCC
Odessa, New York
May 10, 2015
RESULTS
XC1 PRO:
1. Chris Bach (Hon)
2. Kailub Russell (KTM)
3. Ryan Sipes (Hus)
4. Grant Baylor (Yam)
5. Andrew DeLong (Hus)
6. Takeshi Koikeda (Hon)
7. Chris Douglas (KTM)
8. Adam Bonneur (KTM)
9. Thad DuVall (Hus)
10. Josh Strang (Hus)
XC2 PRO LITES
1. Jason Thomas (KTM)
2. Tegan Temple (KTM)
3. Layne Michael (Hon)
4. Ricky Russell (Yam)
5. Trevor Bollinger (KTM)
6. Cory Buttrick (Bet)
7. Craig DeLong (Hus)
8. Austin Lee (Yam)
9. Michael Witkowski (KTM)
10. Callan May (Yam)
