| July 15, 2019
Kailub Russell won six of the 12 tests and finished no worse than second in the remaining tests en route to the overall win at LL Raceway Full Gas Sprint Enduro, round six of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series in Fairmount, Pennsylvania, July 13-14.
Kailub Russell Wins LL Raceway Sprint Enduro
Other than an off weekend in Tennessee, where he finished second to his FMF/KTM teammate Josh Toth, Russell has dominated the series. Russell’s latest win in Pennsylvania represented his fifth win in six rounds and extended his lead in the championship standings to 46 points over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Thad Duvall.
With two types of tests—cross test and enduro test—the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series requires a rider to excel in both conditions: wide-open and fast grass track situations, as well as tight and rough enduro-types sections. And while most riders are faster in one or the other, Russell is equally proficient at both.
This weekend was no exception, as Russell posted fastest times on both courses and finished off the two-day event with a 20-second margin of victory over Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Strang. Meanwhile, Duvall rounded out the podium, 34 seconds behind Strang.
“I was able to stay pretty consistent on both of the tracks and take home another win,” said Russell. “The tests I didn’t win I got second, so I think I had a pretty solid weekend.”
Russell got off to a great start on Saturday, winning the first two tests, while Strang needed more time to warm up and was fifth in the opening test. The Aussie off-road star, however, picked up the pace midway into Saturday’s round and closed out the day with wins in the last two tests.
“The first test on Saturday, the cross test, it was slicker than I thought, and I just didn’t ride very well,” said Strang. “In the woods test, I felt good, I won the last test of the day, and I felt like I had some pretty good lines.”
Russell and Strang continued to dominate on Sunday, and overall the duo accounted for 11 of the 12 test wins, with Duvall winning the final test of the weekend.
“The enduro test got faster on Sunday; it just kept getting more traction, and the main line got easier to ride, so the times got faster,” said Russell. “That’s where I made up most of my time, but overall, I think I rode well in both tests.”
On Saturday, Russell and Strang each won three tests, while on Sunday, Russell won three tests—two enduro and one cross—and Strang won two.
“My times were quicker on Sunday; they just weren’t quick enough,” said Strang. “Overall, I felt like I rode fairly good, so I was pretty happy with it.”
Third overall went to Duvall, who was pleased with his win in the final test.
Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jordan Ashburn had a solid weekend in fourth overall. Having signed with the Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki team during the off-season, Ashburn is still adjusting to the new bike, although he looked comfortable in Pennsylvania.
“I got off to a good start, but I seemed to struggle on the enduro test,” said Ashburn. “The test got rougher on Sunday, and I still struggled.”
Ashburn made up for his struggles in the enduro test with some fast times in the cross test and finished off the weekend in fourth overall.
Rounding out the top five was Layne Michael. The Husqvarna-back North Carolina rider was fifth for the day on Saturday but got stronger when the track dried a bit on Sunday and was fourth overall for the day.
Sixth overall was Tely Energy Racing KTM’s Grant Baylor. Like Michael, Baylor got stronger on Sunday, as well.
Seventh overall and first in the Pro2 division was Evan Smith. The Husqvarna/Max Motorsports/FXR rider dominated the enduro test but took a back seat to Pro motocrosser Ben Nelko in the cross test.
Despite riding with an injured hand, Smith beat Nelko by over a minute in the overall class standings. However, Nelko topped the Cross test four of the six times, with Beta USA’s Mike Witkowski winning the remaining two times.
“I hurt my hand a few weeks ago at the Snowshoe [GNCC], and it’s been pretty painful,” said Smith. “I can’t really pull my clutch in all that well, and I haven’t really been practicing at all since then.”
Coastal Racing Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong finished eighth overall, while Nelko brought his Yamaha in for ninth. Nelko is currently riding the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series and decided to ride the Sprint Enduro since the motocross series was off this weekend.
“I struggled a little bit on the enduro tests, but I won four out of the six cross tests,” said Nelko. “I loved the race; it was a lot of fun. I liked it because it was so laid back, and you just went out and rode. It was a good time. What I liked most about it compared to the outdoors stuff is how much everybody got along. Everybody was so cool. I like the way you jump back and forth from the grass track to the woods stuff. I thought it was pretty cool.”
Nelko finished second in the Pro2 class, while Witkowski was 10th overall and third in the Pro2 division.
Maxxis/KTM’s Becca Sheets took the win in the Women’s Pro class, beating out Beta USA’s Korie Steede by just over three minutes. Team Green Kawasaki’s Shelby Rolen was third.
Mason Atherton (14th overall) topped Billy Schlag (15th overall) for the win in the Pro-Am class, with RJ Cook in third (16th overall).
Shan Moore
OVERALL
- Kailub Russell (KTM)
- Josh Strang (Kaw)
- Thad Duvall (Hus)
- Jordan Ashburn (Kaw)
- Layne Michael (Hus)
- Grant Baylor (KTM)
- Evan Smith (Hus)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Ben Nelko (Yam)
- Mike Witkowski (Bet)