Cycle News Staff | October 31, 2016
Ironman GNCC: Kailub Russell Records 40th Win: The 2016 Amsoil Grand National Cross Country Championship wrapped up in Crawfordsville, Indiana, at Ironman Raceway, October 29-30, where FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell chalked up his 40th career GNCC win.
Ironman GNCC: Kailub Russell Records 40th Win
Russell, who had already zipped up the ’16 title, spent much of the day dicing for the lead with Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Team’s Thad Duvall. The race wasn’t fully decided until halfway through the last lap when Duvall struggled on a hill that allowed Russell to get away and take the checkered flag a little over 30 seconds ahead of the Husqvarna rider.
“It’s pretty cool to think that I’ve won 40 overalls since I started racing XC1 in 2011,” Russell said. “The season has been good—10 races is the most that anyone has won in a single season, so I’m happy to make that happen along with a fourth GNCC title. The race was tough and Thad was riding really well in the first half, but I just stayed focus on making good line choices and minimizing the mistakes and it paid off.”
“There was a hill climb that had two different lines around it,” Duvall said of the deciding last lap. “Kailub went up one side, so I went to the other. I thought it was clear, but when I got to the top there were about five lappers who were stuck,” said Duvall. “I tried everything I could do to get around them, but I fell when I went up on the bank and thanks to another race I was able to get going a lot quicker than I thought I was going to be able to.”
The race for the final podium spot came down to a three-way battle involving brothers Grant and Steward Baylor, and Ricky Russell. Steward, however, had to withdraw on the final lap, the victim of a mechanical problem. That left third place to be decided between Grant Baylor and Ricky Russell.
Russell, on the MCS Racing Suzuki/Obermeyer/Kenda/MX Tech/Fly Racing RM-Z, was holding down third when he had a run-in with a mud hole. This allowed Baylor, on the N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha, to get by him.
Baylor then sprinted to the finish to take third place, just 30 seconds ahead of Russell.
“I had a lot of trouble in the beginning with my setup and thought about calling it a day,” said Russell. “But I just couldn’t do that because it was the last race, and I refused to go out that way. I was determined to give it my all, and then I came back up and was fighting for a podium position. I was running third on the last lap, and I got pointed the wrong line in a mud hole. I ended up going down pretty bad, and Grant was able get around me, which he was definitely hard charging, but I still wanted and feel like I deserved the podium.”
Newly crowned AMA National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt filled out the top five overall, crossing the finish line about two minutes and 30 seconds behind Ricky Russell. Jordan Ashburn (KTM) and Benjamin Kelley (Yamaha) took sixth and seventh, respectively.
Eighth overall was the top XC2 Pro Lites rider Layne Michael on the Coastal Racing/ MSR Husqvarna. He took the lead away from fast starter Mike Witkowski on the first lap and never looked back. He finished approximately 30 seconds ahead of his nearest class rival Vance Francis (Honda), who worked his way up from just inside the top 10. It was his first ever podium finish. Sandwiched in between was XC1 rider Cory Buttrick (KTM).
Third in XC2 Pro Lites was N-Fan/AmPro Yamaha Josh Toth.
“I just tried to get to the front and ride like I know I can,” said winner Michael. “I had a small crash on the first lap but regrouped and kept going. As the race went on I started feeling sick, but I maintained on the last lap and came out with the win. The year didn’t start out that great, but it feels great to come back after summer break and get these results.” CN
Ironman GNCC
Crawfordsville, Indiana
RESULTS: October 30, 2016
OVERALL
- Kailub Russell (KTM)
- Thad Duvall (Hus)
- Grant Baylor (Yam)
- Ricky Russell (Suz)
- Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
- Jordan Ashburn (KTM)
- Benjamin Kelley (Yam)
- Layne Michael (Hus)
- Cory Buttrick (KTM)
- Vance Francis (Hon)