After winning the first two AMSOIL GNCC events of the year, Josh Strang has not been on top of the box again until now; Kailub Russell’s win streak snapped.
At the start of the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country season, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing/Bel-Ray’s Josh Strang was the man to beat, reeling off two straight wins, but then defending series champion got on a roll and won the next five straight.
Sunday, in dusty conditions at the Second Annual Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC in Odessa, New York, Strang finally got back on top of the box, posting a convincing win in the XC1 Pro Class while Russell faltered and not only failed to make the podium but also surrendered the series points lead back to Strang.
SRT/KTM/Kenda Tires’ Cory Buttrick took the lead at the start of the race, but Strang would take over before the XC1 Pro field entered the woods section of the Tomahawk course on the opening lap. Strang held the lead when the first lap went into the books, but Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Team’s Thad Duvall and FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Russell Bobbitt trailed in second and third. And where was Kailub Russell? The defending series champ was stuck deep in the pack after a slow start. The dust definitely played a factor in the outcome of the race as Duvall failed to see a string marking the course and was “clothes-lined” off his motorcycle. Duvall was not injured and returned to the race in 11th place.
Russell was on the move as the race progressed, and he cut Strang’s race lead to 15 seconds by the halfway point of the three-hour contest. Russell cut that down to just 6 seconds when the field was shown the white flag, and he caught and passed Strang for the lead. Strang refused to give in without a fight and the two collided and crashed when Strang tried to make a pass on Russell. Strang was able to continue, but Russell’s bike suffered sufficient crash damage to knock him out of the race. Strang went on to record his third win of the season.
“I got off to a quick lead and I think the dust helped me get a gap,” Strang said. “Kailub started to catch me on the last two laps and then was right on me on the last lap. Around the six-mile marker we had different lines and he came up next to me, and we rubbed, and I backed off and he passed me. Then about a half mile later the same opportunity came up where I was able to get up next to him, and we both came together and got tangled. He hit a tree and then I hit the next tree in line. I’m not a dirty rider, but that’s racing. We both want to win, and it’s unfortunate that it had to be this way.”
Behind the battle for the lead, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor and Jordan Ashburn also battled for the final podium position, which turned into a battle for the runner-up spot after Russell’s exit. The two traded positions frequently during the race, but Baylor was able to hold the position in lapped traffic. The two were separated by just 1 second at the finish, but Baylor held on for second place while also capturing his first podium finish of the season.
“I’ve struggled big time in the GNCC series all year long,” Baylor said. “Ever since I sunk my bike in Florida it’s went downhill from there. I’m still trying to bounce back from both my injuries this year. It feels great to be back on the podium where I know I belong, but I wish I could have been up in the front battling for the lead instead of third. I came out with second so I can’t really complain because it feels like a win after how this season has been going. I’m really happy with today’s results.”
Ashburn, likewise, has had a tough season, but his third-place finish helped to assuage some of the disappointment.
“It’s been a struggle this year and I’ve just had some stuff happen that I wasn’t sure how it even happened,” Ashburn said. “It’s been a learning year, and we are still learning, and every race we just keep progressing and working our way to be on the podium week in and week out.”
Coastal Racing/Husqvarna/MSR’s Craig Delong grabbed another holeshot just ahead of teammate Layne Michael when the XC2 Pro Lites race left the line. Solid Performance KTM’s Jesse Groemm quickly joined them to make it a three-rider battle for the lead, but JCR Honda/Lucas Oil/Maxxis/FLY Racing’s Trevor Bollinger ultimately worked his way up through the pack after getting off to nearly a last-place start to clam his sixth XC2 Pro Lites win of the season. Groemm and Michael crossed the line finished second and third respectively, with Delong fourth and Trail Jesters Racing’s Josh Toth fifth.
“I had to kick my bike seven times on the start before it would start,” Bollinger said. “It was tough to make up that much time. The woods were good, but the fields were super dusty. You just had to be smart on the first few laps. Once I got with Craig we were rolling pretty well, and eventually I was able to bring it on in.”
FLY Racing/Maxxis/Seat Concepts/Yamaha’s Becca Sheets came out on top in the 10 a.m. race with the overall wins and the WXC win. FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kacy Martinez was second overall in both while Haden VanCuren finished third overall en route to the 125cc B/C class win.
The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series continues with round nine at the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia, June 25-26.
2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC
Odessa, New York
Results: June 12, 2016 (Round 8 of 13)
XC1 Pro
1. Josh Strang-Hus
2. Grant Baylor-Yam
3. Jordan Ashburn-KTM
4. Ricky Russell-Suz
5. Russell Bobbitt-KTM
6. Thad Duvall-Hus
7. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
8. Chris Douglas-Suz
9. Cory Buttrick-KTM
10. Philippe Chaine-KTM
2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Overall National Championship Points Standings after 8 of 13 rounds)*
1. Josh Strang 197/3 wins
2. Kailub Russell-196/5 wins
3. Trevor Bollinger-107
4. Chris Bach-105
5. Jordan Ashburn-105
6. Craig Delong-93
7. Thad Duvall-84
8. Steward Baylor Jr.-83
9. Grant Baylor-81
10. Ricky Russell-80
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion.
XC2 Pro Lites
1. Trevor Bollinger-Hon
2. Jesse Groemm-KTM
3. Layne Michael-Hus
4. Craig Delong-Hus
5. Josh Toth-KTM
6. Mike Witkowski-KTM
7. Trevor Barrett-Hus
8. Jason Klammer-KTM
9. Vance Francis-Hon
10. Ryder Lafferty-Hus
2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country XC2 Pro Lites Series Points Standings (after 8 of 13 rounds)
1. Trevor Bollinger-201
2. Craig Delong-177
3. Jesse Groemm-142
4. Layne Michael-141
5. Benjamin Kelley-109
6. Trevor Barrett-91
7. Josh Toth-90
8. Tegan Temple-89
9. Samuel Evans-84
10. Michael Witkowski-78
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