KTM’s Kailub Russell started off win a win in the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series, though it looks like he’s in for a season-long battle to defend his championship. Photography by Ken Hill/KTM Images
The Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series got started over the weekend in Gaston, South Carolina, where icy temps and gusty conditions greeted riders. The unique format of the Full Gas Sprint Enduro featured two different tests – a 3.5-mile enduro special test and a 3-mile “cross” test similar to what you’d find at an ISDE or World Enduro Championship. The racing – spread out over two days – put the riders on each test three different times on each day, spread out by 20-second intervals, making for a total of 12 special tests throughout the course of the weekend.
When all the scores were tallied, FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell emerged the winner, barely edging out FMF/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Daniel Milner for the first victory of the season aboard his KTM 350 XC-F. If the opening round is any indication, the stage is set for a season-long battle between Milner and Russell, who battled neck and neck throughout the weekend in South Carolina.
N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Daniel Milner dominated five out of six tests on Saturday, but had to settle for second on the weekend. Photogarphy by Ken Hill/AmPro Yamaha
Milner found the race format very much to his liking, and got the weekend started with some quick times on Day 1. AmPro Yamaha’s Aussie import put his ISDE sprinting skills to work in the fast and sandy terrain, and topped five of the six tests on Saturday. Milner finished the day with a 14-second lead ahead of Russell, who wrestled away one test win for himself.
“Day 1 went really well,” Milner said. “My N-Fab AmPro Yamaha YZ450F worked great and everything just clicked. I pretty much started every section first on Saturday and cut fresh track through most of the course. The sand was perfect and reminded me of back home! ”
The rougher conditions and worn-in courses effectively tipped the scales in Russell’s favor on Sunday. The GNCC Champion came out swinging on the Day 2 and turned the tables on Milner. This time it was Russell carding five out of six wins, only yielding one test to Milner by a tenth of a second after a tip-over slowed him down.
Russell (center) shows off his trophy flanked by Australian riders Milner (left) and Josh Strang (right). Photography by Ken Hill/KTM Images
“I had a really good day today,” Russell said. “The track was rougher and a light rain this morning made the conditions good. I felt good from the start of the race all the way through the end. Daniel [Milner] put up a good fight but I was pumped to come away with the win. I’m looking forward to a good battle in this series.”
“I think myself and Kailub were fractions of a second apart of most tests, which was awesome,” Milner said. “Kailub ended up winning by six seconds on Sunday, but I’m stoked with how things went. The track layout was unreal. [Jason] Hooper did a great job!”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang rounded out the podium with a third-place finish – nearly a minute and a half behind Milner. In only his second race aboard his new FMF Husky, Strang rode consistently throughout the weekend to join his Aussie countryman on the podium.
In only his second race aboard his new Husqvarna, Josh Strang rounded out the podium with a consistent performance. Photography by Ken Hill/Husqvarna Images
Milner’s N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha teammate Jordan Ashburn finished fourth ahead of Honda-mounted Layne Michael. Both riders were advanced a position when Ryan Sipes – who had been running fourth after Day 1, was forced to leave the event and head home to assist his family who were left without heat or electricity in a severe ice storm.
Tegan Temple ended up sixth on the day – the young privateer may have missed out on the top-five by only a mere second, but he can still boast that he finished ahead of factory riders Grant Baylor, Russell Bobbitt, Andrew DeLong and Ricky Russell, who rounded out the top-ten, respectively.
Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Pro Results:
1. Kailub Russell (1:14:27.5)
2. Daniel Milner (1:14:33.4)
3. Josh Strang (1:16:02.7)
4. Jordan Ashburn (1:17:13.5)
5. Layne Michael (1:17:30.5)
6. Tegan Temple (1:17:31.6)
7. Grant Baylor (1:17:45.2)
8. Russell Bobbitt (1:18:11.3)
9. Andrew DeLong (1:18:23.3)
10. Ricky Russell (1:19:12.0)
