Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell earns his third win in as many rounds when the 2015 AMSOIL GNCC series visits North Carolina.
Is Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell a freak of nature?
It sure would seem so as the two-time and defending AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series Champion was once again unbeatable during the 16th running of the FMF Steele Creek GNCC at the Steele Creek Camprground in Morganton, North Carolina. Russell claimed his 25th career AMSOIL GNCC win and his third consecutive win of the year to remain perfect in 2015, and he extended his points lead in the XC1 Pro class.
About the only thing Russell didn’t win was the start of the race. N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn put himself into the early lead after grabbing the $250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award, but Russell found the way to the front of the field before the end of lap one. Russell then began to put time on the rest of the field en route to the win.
AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes jumped ahead of Ashburn and into second place on the opening lap, and Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4/FAR Husqvarna’s Thad DuVall also joined the front-runners early.
Meanwhile, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Josh Strang crashed after he collided with with another rider just after the start, and he was forced to battle his way up through the running order from the back of the pack.
JCR Honda’s Chris Bach chased after Ashburn as the battle for second place heated up, but DuVall passed both men to take over the spot as 3-hour race neared the halfway point. Strang then caught up to DuVall, and the two Husqvarna riders engaged in an exciting battle for the rest of the race.
Russell only seemed to get faster in the late stages of the seven-lap race, and he crossed the finishe line just over 2 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of Strang. DuVall finished third, just 20 seconds behind Strang.
Russell keeps his win streak alive at four GNCC rounds (dating back to last year) and three-for-three in 2015, giving him a 15-point lead over Strang in the GNCC championship standings. DuVall sits third, another 15 points behind Strang.
Grant Baylor put together an impressive come-from-behind performance to finish fourth overall. Baylor had started the race outside the top 10, but like Strang he made his way through the pack, just missing finish. Baylor’s AmPro Yamaha teammate, Ashburn was fifth overall, and he is now tied with Baylor for fourth in the championship standings.
In his first race back from injury this season, Moto-Tech/KTM’s Steward Baylor finish sixth overall after being forced to make his way through the pack alongside his brother Grant. Daniel Milner was seventh overall, ahead of Factory FMF/KTM’s Russell Bobbitt. After running as high as second, Sipes ran into trouble during the day and salvaged a ninth-place finish in XC1, coming in 14th overall. Husqvarna Canada/Parts Unlimited Canada’s Tyler Medaglia was 10th XC1 and 25th overall.
The XC2 Pro Lites battle heated up at the Steele Creek GNCC as DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM’s Jason Thomas took the class win. Thomas began the race by grabbing the $100 Hot Cams XC2 Pro Lites Holeshot Award, but he had to contend with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4/FAR’s Nick Davis and Moto-Tech/KTM’s Trevor Bollinger.
Thomas and Davis tangled halfway through the race, causing both riders to crash just past the finish line. That put Bollinger in the lead and moved RideMPS.com/AMSOIL/Honda’s Layne Michael into second place. Davis then ran into mechanical trouble and dropped out of the race. Thomas managed to get back to the front and go on to capture his second straight XC2 victory of the season, with Michael second and Bollinger, a Morganton, North Carolina native, third.
The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series returns to action April 11-12 with the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina.
AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
FMF Steele Creek GNCC
Steele Creek Camprground
Morganton, North Carolina
Results: March 29, 2015 (Round 3 of 13)
XC1
1. Kailub Russell-KTM
2. Josh Strang-Hus
3. Thad DuVall-Hus
4. Grant Baylor-Yam
5. Jordan Ashburn-Yam
6. Steward Baylor-KTM
7. Daniel Milner-Yam
8. Russell Bobbitt-KTM
9. Ryan Sipes-Hus
10. Tyler Medaglia-Hus
AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series Point Standings (After 3 of 13 rounds)*
1. Kailub Russell-90/3 wins
2. Josh Strang-75
3. Thad DuVall-60
4. Grant Baylor-44
Jordan Ashburn-44
6. Jason Thomas-38
7. Chris Bach-37
8. Nick Davis-28
9. Tyler Medaglia-26
10. Craig DeLong-25
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2015 National Champion.
XC2
1. Jason Thomas-KTM
2. Layne Michael-Hon
3. Trevor Bollinger-KTM
4. Craig Delong-Hon
5. Scott Grills-Yam
6. Austin Lee-Yam
7. Cory Buttrick-Bet
8. Trevor Barrett-Hus
9. Callan May-Yam
10. Brad Bakken-Yam
XC2 Class Point Standings (after 3 of 13 rounds)
1. Jason Thomas-71*
2. Layne Michael-56
3. Nick Davis-55
4. Craig Delong-52
5. Trevor Bollinger-44
6. Cory Buttrick-43
7. Brad Bakken-34
8. Callan May-27
9. Scott Grills-26
10. Phillipe Chaine-25
* Reflects a penalty administered for a rule infraction at round three.
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