Cycle News Staff | April 9, 2018
Steele Creek N.C. GNCC Results 2018 – Thad Duvall claimed his first GNCC win of the year after out-dueling defending champ Kailub Russell at the Steele Creeke round in Morganton, North Carolina, April 8.
Steele Creek N.C. GNCC Results 2018
Russell (FMF/KTM) led from the start and opened up a small lead over Duvall (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) for much of the race, but when the leaders started catching lapped traffic, things quickly changed. Russell found it difficult getting around the slower riders, which ultimately helped Duvall to catch up to and start pressuring Russell. Russell eventually surrendered the lead to Duvall but got it back two laps from the end. On the last lap, Russell tried getting away from Duval without success.
Once Duvall had latched on to Russell there was no letting go. Duvall eventually got around Russell, who was again tripped up by a lapper, and held on for the win, taking the checkered flag just a few seconds ahead of the number-one plate holder, Russell.
“I have been working so hard to train more and get to where I want to be with my racing,” Duvall said. “This race was rough but I kept charging, I wanted the win so bad. I was in the right place when I made the pass for the lead, and couldn’t be happier with this finish!”
“It stings when you lose like that, it’s out of your control completely,” Russell said of the lappers. “I had a 50/50 shot with that lapped rider in front of me, but Thad was riding really good and he was able to hang with me and capitalize on the mistake. I tried to run him down in the last few turns and put some pressure on him but the last few turns were super slick and there was nothing I could rally do. He was riding really good and get by when it counted.”
Third place went to former XC2 champ Trevor Bollinger (JCR Honda). The local favorite was more than three minutes down on the two riders ahead of him.
Steele Creek N.C. GNCC Results 2018
Finishing fourth overall was XC2 250 Pro-class winner Benjamin Kelley (Trail Jesters KTM Racing). He led it from flag to flag and it was his third straight class win.
Steward Baylor Jr. rounded out the top five overall in the XC1 Pro class. Josh Toth (KTM), Josh Strang (Husqvarna), Jordan Ashburn (Beta), Layne Michael (Husqvarna) and Pascal Rauchenecker (Husqvarna, third XC2) completed the top 10 overall.
Jesse Ansley (KTM) won the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am division in 20th overall.
Becca Sheets (KTM) won the WXC class with room to spare over Tayla Jones (Husqvarna) and Mackenzie Tricker (KTM).
Morganton, North Carolina
OVERALL RESULTS: April 8, 2018
- Thad Duvall (Hus)
- Kailub Russell (KTM)
- Trevor Bollinger (Hon)
- Ben Kelley (KTM)
- Steward Baylor (KTM)
- Josh Toth (KTM)
- Josh Strang (Hus)
- Jordan Ashburn (Bet)
- Layne Michael (Hus)
- Pascal Rauchenecker (Hus)