Kailub Russell Takes First GNCC Win of 2015
Cycle News Staff | March 9, 2015
Factory KTM’s Kailub Russell nose-wheelies across the finish line at the opening round of the GNCC series in Palatka, Florida. Russell took a commanding win over two and a half minutes over second place.
FMF KTM’s Kailub Russell got the 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series started in winning fashion, taking the overall win at the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC. Russell took a commanding win in the XC1 Pro class in Palatka, Florida at the Rodman Plantation, where he topped factory Husqvarna’s Josh Strang and JCR Honda’s Chris Bach in one of the roughest GNCCs in recent memory.
Although N-Fab AmPro rider Jordan Ashburn grabbed the holeshot and the early lead, it didn’t take Russell very long to move his way to the front and proceed to check out. Behind him, the battle for second raged on between Strang and the Husqvarna-mounted duo of Ryan Sipes and Thad DuVall. Strang secured the point after Sipes had a spectacular wreck, leaving DuVall and Bach to battle for the final podium position.
In the end, Bach was able to pilot his CRF450R into third overall, making for a decent start to the JCR Honda team’s premier season in GNCC.
XC1 Pro podium (L-R): Husqvarna’s Josh Strang, FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell and JCR Honda rider Chris Bach.
In the XC2 class, it was Rocky Mountain ATV/MC FAR Husqvarna’s Nick Davis who topped the field. Ricky Russell and Jason Thomas joined him on the XC2 podium.
GNCC XC1 Pro Results:
1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
2. Josh Strang (HSQ)
3. Chris Bach (HON)
4. Thad DuVall (HSQ)
5. Tyler Medaglia (HSQ)
6. Ryan Sipes (HSQ)
7. Grant Baylor (YAM)
8. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
9. Takeshi Koikeda (HON)
10. Cory Graffunder (KTM)
GNCC XC2 Results:
1. Nick Davis (HSQ)
2. Ricky Russell (YAM)
3. Jason Thomas (KTM)
4. Tegan Temple (KTM)
5. Craig Delong (HSQ)
6. Layne Michael (HON)
7. Cory Buttrick (BET)
8. Michael Witkowski (KTM)
9. Brad Bakken (YAM)
10. Drew Torrance (KTM)
