Cycle News Staff | February 24, 2020
The 2020 Big Buck GNCC results are in the books and a familiar face stood on the top step of the podium when all was said and done. Seven-time GNCC Champion Kailub Russell got his final season of racing off to a good start by taking the overall win at the Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina, February 23. Russell, on the FMF KTM, led from start to finish for his 61st career XC1 victory. He’s hoping to close out his racing career with his eighth title. (Russell announced earlier that this would be his last full season of racing.)
Russell finished nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, Coastal Bi-Con Racing Husqvarna’s Ricky Russell, who kept Kailub on his toes throughout the race.
Filling out the podium was veteran racer Josh Strang on the Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Team Green Kawasaki. Strang to the checkers one minute and 40 seconds behind Ricky Russell.
Fourth overall went to FactoryONE Sherco’s Steward Baylor, while his brother, Grant, and fellow Sherco rider ended up seventh overall.
Rounding out the top five overall was the top XC2 rider, AmPro Yamaha’s Mike Witkowski, who had room to spare over class runner-up, KTM rider Jonathan Girroir.
Girror edged out third-in-class Craig Delong (Husqvarna) by just a few seconds.
Zack Hayes (KTM) edged our former GNCC champ Jason Raines for the win in the FMFD XC3 125 Pro-Am class, while Becca Sheets (Yamaha) edged out defending class champion Tayla ones in the Women’s class.
“There’s no way I was going to lose my last ‘first-race [of the season]’ ever!” said Kailub Russell. “I felt really good and I came in really prepared – I’ve been dialed-in the last seven weeks training hard, working hard and I finally came into the season 100% healthy and ready to go. I feel like I’m back on 2015 form where the race comes to me really easy. I just kept a pace that I thought would wear those guys down and I just held that pace through the whole race basically.” CN
2020 GNCC Championship
Big Buck GNCC
Union, South Carolina
Results: February 23, 2020
1. |
Kailub Russell |
(KTM) |
XC1 |
2. |
Ricky Russell |
(Hus) |
XC1 |
3. |
Josh Strang |
(Kaw) |
XC1 |
4. |
Steward Baylor |
(She) |
XC1 |
5. |
Mike Witkowski |
(Yam) |
XC2 |
6. |
Jordan Ashburn |
(Kaw) |
XC1 |
7. |
Grant Baylor |
(She) |
XC1 |
8. |
Layne Michael |
(Yam) |
XC1 |
9. |
Johnny Girroir |
(KTM) |
XC2 |
10. |
Craig DeLong |
(Hus) |
XC2 |