GNCC: Alex Salvini To Try Ironman GNCC

Shan Moore | October 24, 2014

Alex Salvini will be racing the Ironman GNCC this weekend. PHOTO COURTESY HONDA RACING

Former World Enduro World Champion Alex Salvini will be going head to head with America’s best off-roaders this weekend at the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana, the final round of the Grand National Cross Country Series.

Salvini won the Enduro Italian Championship for the second time in succession this season, and finished the World Enduro Championship strongly with a win in the Italian round to finish runner-up in the overall standings with the Honda Zanardo team. In Indiana, Salvini will receive support from Honda USA and Johnny Campbell Racing.

“It’s the first time ever that I race in the USA and I’m very excited for this new adventure” said Salvini. “Considering the injuries I have had already in the pre-season, I’m happy with the second position in the Enduro World Championship and to have conquered the Italian crown for the third year in a row. Now that the season is over I can discover the Enduro world in the USA without any pressure. I’m curious to understand the level of the US series. The format is very different from what we are used to, with three hour-long races and a Motocross-style start.

“I’m confident as I can count on the experience and the professionalism of Johnny Campbell and his team. I’d like to thank my team Honda Zanardo, Honda Europe, Honda USA and of course Johnny Campbell for this extraordinary occasion.”

The Ironman is expected to draw one of the largest crowds of the season, and with the XC1 Pro and XC2 Pro Lites Championships already wrapped up, round 13 will be less about points and more about pride as a deep field of talent is expected to compete in this year’s highly anticipated season finale.

Recently crowned two-time GNCC National Champion Kailub Russell will once again try his hand in putting an underpowered KTM 150XC two-stroke into the center of the podium this Sunday, despite a highly competitive field equipped with 450-and 350cc four-strokes, as well as higher powered 250cc two-strokes in the XC1 Pro class. Meanwhile, newly crowned XC2 Pro Lites Champion Grant Baylor will make his XC1 debut