It’s only fitting that four-time and reigning AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Champion Kailubr Russell should win the 13th and final round of the 2016 series, the AMSOIL Ironman GNCC at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Sunday.
After all, Russell is clearly just that, an Ironman. With an astounding tally of 35 wins in the previous 51 GNCC rounds that date back to his first championship season of 2013, the FMF/KTM Factory Racing-backed Russell has clearly been the man to beat in America’s premier cross country series.
But even though he had already clinched the 2016 series title at the Polaris Ace Powerline Park GNCC in early October, there was still a personal record to chase. Part of Russell’s GNCC dominance has not only included amassing the greatest number of points but also the most wins each season. The magic number was nine in 2013 and 2014, but it dipped to eight in 2015 when Russell sat out the last three rounds due to an injury suffered at the 2015 ISDE.
At Ironman Raceway, Russell eclipsed the nine-win mark when he grabbed his 10th GNCC win of the year and the 40th GNCC win of his career.
MCS Racing Suzuki/Obermeyer/Kenda/MX Tech/Fly Racing’s Ricky Russell took the early lead when the XC1 Pro class left the starting line, but that lead was short-lived as Kailub Russell quickly found his way to the front of the pack. Once out front, Kailub Russell came under fire from his ISDE World Trophy Championship teammate, Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Husqvarna’s Thad DuVall. The two were just one second apart at the end of the first lap, the two running ahead of Westfield Powersports/Moose Racing KTM ‘s Jordan Ashburn
Pit strategy came into play after DuVall passed Kailub Russell for the lead on lap three. When DuVall pitted, Russell elected to stay on the course, retaking the lead. DuVall continued to dog Russell, however, and he retook the lead on right around the halfway point in the race. However, Kailub Russell once again passed DuVall, who then lost time when he tangled with lapped riders.
“There was a hill climb that had two different lines around it,” DuVall said after the race. “Kailub went up one side, so I went to the other. I thought it was clear, but when I got to the top there were about five lappers who were stuck. I tried everything I could do to get around them, but I fell when I went up on the bank and thanks to another racer I was able to get going a lot quicker than I thought I was going to be able to.”
Even so, the damage was done as Kailub Russell pulled clear and went on to cross the finish line 38 seconds ahead of DuVall.
“The fans just make this race an awesome experience,” Kailub Russell said. “I had a great day riding with Thad. I haven’t ridden for a week and a half, so it made it a tough day, but it’s unbelievable that I was able to capture my 40th career overall win today.”
Behind Kailub Russell and DuVall, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor came out on top of a battle that included Ricky Russell and Grant’s brother, Steward Baylor Jr. for third place. That battle was whittled down to two riders when Steward Baylor Jr. suffered a mechanical failure that ended his race early. Grant Baylor was able to take advantage when Ricky Russell made a poor line choice and crashed in a mud hole. Grant went on to finish third.
RPM/KTM’s Mike Witkowskipulled the holeshot when the XC2 Pro Lites pack left the starting area, but he was quickly overtaken by Coastal Racing/Husqvarna/MSR’s Layne Michael, who went to earn the class win.
“I just tried to get to the front and ride like I know I can,” Michael said. “I had a small crash on the first lap but regrouped and kept going. As the race went on I started feeling sick, but I maintained on the last lap and came out with the win. The year didn’t start out that great, but it feels great to come back after summer break and get these results.”
Vance Francis came from outside of the top 10 to land his first-ever podium finish. N-Fan/AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Toth was third.
FLY Racing/Maxxis/Seat Concepts/Yamaha’s Becca Sheets capped off her championship season with another WXC win while taking the overall win in the 10 a.m. race. Kacy Martinez and Mackenzie Tricker finished second and third to make it an all-women’s overall podium in the co-ed event.
The GNCC stars of the future did battle in the 8 a.m. Youth race. Michael Beeler Jr. and Peyton Whipkey battled back and forth before Beeler was forced to drop out due to a mechanical failure. Whipkey went on to land his first career Youth overall win. Super Mini Jr. class winner Shawn Myers finished second, and Tanner Collins finished third.
The Ironman GNCC closed the curtain on another banner year of AMSOIL GNCC racing came to a close. The 2017 edition of the AMSOIL GNCC series kicks off next March.
2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
AMSOIL Ironman GNCC
Ironman Raceway
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Results: Sunday, October 30, 2016 (Round 13 of 13)
XC1 Pro
1. Kailub Russell-KTM
2. Thad Duvall-Hus
3. Grant Baylor-Yam
4. Ricky Russell-Suz
5. Russell Bobbitt-KTM
6. Jordan Ashburn-KTM
7. Benjamin Kelley-Yam
8. Cory Buttrick-KTM
9. Andrew Delong-Hus
10. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
2016 AMSOIL GNCC Overall National Championship Standings (after 13 of 13 rounds)
1. Kailub Russell-316/10 wins
2. Josh Strang-236/3 wins
3. Trevor Bollinger-166
4. Jordan Ashburn-161
5. Thad Duvall-155
6. Steward Baylor Jr.-148
7. Ricky Russell-141
8. Craig Delong-137
9. Grant Baylor-132
10. Layne Michael-122
XC2 Pro Lites
1. Layne Michael-Hus
2. Vance Francis-Hon
3. Josh Toth-Yam
4. Craig Delong-Hus
5. Michael Witkowski-KTM
6. Jesse Groemm-KTM
7. Zack Hayes-KTM
8. Samuel Evans-Yam
9. Evan Smith-KTM
10. Tegan Temple-KTM
2016 AMSOIL GNCC XC2 Pro Lites Series Points Standings (after 13 of 13 rounds)
1. Trevor Bollinger-301
2. Craig Delong-254
3. Layne Michael-235
4. Benjamin Kelley-182
5. Josh Toth-171
6. Jesse Groemm-158
7. Vance Francis-135
8. Michael Witkowski-125
9. Samuel Evans-121
10. Zack Hayes-113
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