Defending AMSOIL GNCC Champion Kailub Russell takes over the series points lead after winning the inaugural CST Tires Camp Coker Bullet GNCC in South Carolina.
It took five rounds, but FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell erased the deficit that he had found himself in after the first two rounds of the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) by winning the inaugural CST Tires Camp Coker Bullet GNCC at Moree’s Hunting Preserve in Society Hill, South Carolina, Sunday.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing/Bel-Ray’s Josh Strang, the man who was tied with Russell for the GNCC series points lead coming into the Camp Coker Bullet round and was looking to stop Russell’s two-race win streak, jumped out to the early lead in the six-lap race. With Russell mired in the middle of the pack, Strang tried to get away, but Russell was able to hit the front by the time he came through the scoring barrels on the opening lap.
“I had a good jump off the line but locked bars with Strang and that pushed me wide in the start,” Russell said. “I knew I had to get around the guys in front of me because I could tell I was running out of roll-offs. The guys were zig-zagging through the track, and I just pinned it and went straight through everything. It was surreal how fast I got around them and pulled a lead. I was expecting the worst going out there but the track wasn’t that bad.”
Strang’s fortunes also changed, only they were going in the opposite direction: He fell to the back of the pack after getting stuck in a mud hole.
JCR Honda/Lucas Oil/Maxxis/FLY Racing’s Chris Bach took over second place, but Westfield Powersports KTM’s Jordan Ashburn and Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/FAR Racing Husqvarna’s Thad Duvall moved to within striking distance of Bach as all three tried to catch Russell. However, Russell continued to enjoy a commanding lead over the rest of the XC1 Pro field at the halfway point of the race. Although Duvall and Ashburn tried to get Russell in sight, the three-time and defending GNCC champ was just too strong, and he crossed the finish line for the inaugural win 40 seconds ahead of Ashburn.
“I rode in sand a lot this winter when I just started back riding,” Russell said. “The woods were super fun. It was sandy, but all the rain brought some dirt to the top. It was probably the most fun I’ve had racing in a couple of years, to be honest. The track had a great flow, and when you’re having fun it just turns into riding fast, and that’s what happened today.”
After an epic battle to the finish line, Ashburn finished just two seconds ahead of Duvall in third.
“I got a bad start and struggled the first couple of laps trying to get around everyone,” Ashburn said. “Once I got up to second Thad was right behind me and he continued pushing me the whole race. My main goal was to not make any mistakes, and it feels great to finally get back on the podium.”
Bach finished fourth overall, with SRT/KTM/Kenda Tires-backed Steward Baylor Jr. fifth overall. Strang was able to make his way back up to sixth in XC1 and 10th overall.
As well as he had been riding, it seemed as if something extraordinary would have to happen to halt the four-race win streak of JCR Honda/Lucas Oil/Maxxis/FLY Racing-backed XC@ competitor Trevor Bollinger, and that’s just what happened at the CST Tires Camp Coker Bullet GNCC. Bollinger suffered a mechanical issue and had to get towed back to the pits early in the XC2 Pro-Am race, and he ultimately was forced out of the race.
After Coastal Racing/Husqvarna/MSR’s Craig Delong added another $125 Hot Cams Holeshot Award to his resume, his teammate, Layne Michael, took control of the race and went on to record his first win of the season. N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Nick Davis managed to work his way from a dead last start to finish second. Delong would fall as far back as 12th on the first lap, but he came roaring back to net third at the checkered flag. Trail Jesters Racing’s Ben Kelley and Kentucky native Vance Francis complete the top five.
The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes May 14 and 15 with the Limestone 100 GNCC in Springville, Indiana.
2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
CST Tires Camp Coker Bullet GNCC
Moree’s Hunting Preserve
Society Hill, South Carolina
Results: May 1, 2016 (Round 5 of 13)
XC1 Pro
1. Kailub Russell-KTM
2. Jordan Ashburn-KTM
3. Thad Duvall-Hus
4. Chris Bach-Hon
5. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
6. Josh Strang-Hus
7. Daniel Milner-Yam
8. Ricky Russell-Suz
9. Chris Douglas-Suz
10. Cory Buttrick-KTM
2016 AMSOIL GNCC National Championship Points Standings (after 5 of 13 rounds)*
1. Kailub Russell-123/3 wins
2. Josh Strang-117/2 wins
3. Chris Bach-89
4. Daniel Milner-69
5. Jordan Ashburn-66
6. Ryan Sipes-66
7. Steward Baylor Jr.-62
8. Trevor Bollinger-62
9. Craig Delong-51
10. Grant Baylor-50
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion.
XC2 Pro-Am
1. Layne Michael-Hus
2. Nick Davis-Yam
3. Craig Delong-Hus
4. Benjamin Kelley-KTM
5. Vance Francis-Hon
6. Tegan Temple-Bet
7. Samuel Evans-Yam
8. Joshua Toth-KTM
9. Michael McGinnis-KTM
10. Austin Lee-Yam
XC2 Pro Lites Class Points Standings (after 5 of 13 rounds)
1. Trevor Bollinger-123/4 wins
2. Craig Delong-104
3. Jesse Groemm-85
4. Layne Michael-82/1 win
5. Tegan Temple-81
6. Benjamin Kelley-65
7. Austin Lee-63
8. Trevor Barrett-59
9. Samuel Evans-56
10. Joshua Toth-53
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