Factory/FMF rider Kailub Russell wins the 20th Anniversary AMSOIL Ironman GNCC aboard a 150cc two-stroke!
No question about it, Kailub Russell is the man in AMSOIL GNCC racing right now.
When Russell, who clinched his second consecutive AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis title two rounds ago, elected to contest the final two races aboard a KTM 150 two-stroke rather than ride his 350cc four-stroke, nobody expected him to actually pull off an overall win. But, that’s just what he did during a historic 20th Anniversary AMSOIL Ironman GNCC at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordville, Indiana, today. Just under 2300 riders showed up to do battle at the GNCC season finale, breaking the all-rider attendance record set at the Unadilla GNCC earlier this season by more than 200 entries, and Russell put forth a heroic performance on the screaming little KTM en route to his 22nd career GNCC victory—and his ninth of the year. It clearly wasn’t about the bike, as Russell led four of the six laps in the three-hour Pro race.
“I want to thank everyone who told me I couldn’t win on a 150, because you gave me the motivation to come here and do my best,” Russell said on the podium after the race. “I am so excited to win on this bike and that it has helped raise a lot of money for Rory Mead. Thank you to everyone who participated in the raffle.”
It was no surprise that Russell was a little outgunned off the start, but he still managed to run second to factory FMF/KTM teammate Charlie Mullins in the early going, with Rockstar Energy/WMR KTM’s Ryan Sipes slotting into third place. Mullins and Russell would very quickly begin trading positions, and Sipes would officially lead the first two laps. Russell kept the little two-stroke pinned, and his aggressive riding paid off when he was able to move into the lead on lap three.
With a clear track in front of him, Russell went on to stretch his advantage over the rest of the field while Mullins dropped back out of podium contention with sore wrists, the result of a previous injury. Sipes ran second, but Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Strang and JCR Honda/Rockstar Energy’s Chris Bach soon moved up to make a the three-way battle for the position that was reduced to two riders after Bach suffered mechanical woes. Sipes and Strang swapped the second spot numerous times through the final two laps.
Russell went on to enjoy a trouble-free ride, crossing the finish line one and a half minutes ahead of second place and adding the $150 KR4 Performance fastest lap award to his victory jackpot along the way. Strang got clear of Sipes, who put on a last-lap charge, only to end up six seconds behind Strang and finish third. Strang’s runner-up performance guaranteed him second place overall in the final series standings. His motorcycle will wear the number-two plates next season.
“Today was fun and I’m happy to end the season on top of the podium,” Strang said. “The last time I came into a season with the number two I ended up winning the championship [in 2010], so I’m looking forward to it.”
Sipes’ third-place finish marked his first career GNCC podium finish. Sipes his well-known as a solid competitor in AMA Supercross and Motocross, but this was his rookie season in GNCC racing.
“It feels really good to finally get a podium finish here in GNCC,” Sipes said. “I led for two and a half laps, and it’s just good to know I can charge at the end of a race and not get tired like I was at the beginning of the season. I had a good day and I’m just really thankful to end the season this way.”
Factory Husqvarna rider and 2014 AMA National Enduro Champion Andrew DeLong finished a solid fourth place overall, with Factory FMF/KTM’s Steward Baylor fifth, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn sixth and Moto Vations Suspension/Palmer Motorsports’ Takeshi Koikeda seventh. N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley finished eighth in the XC1 class, while KTM Support rider Grant Baylor finished ninth in his XC1 debut, followed by Mullins in 10th.
With XC2 Pro Lites Champion Grant Baylor stepping up to the XC1 Pro ranks at the Ironman GNCC, KR4 Arrive-N-Ride KTM’s Nick Davis made it clear that he intended to land his first XC2 win by grabbing the $100 DigitalOffroad.com XC2 Holeshot Award. The win was far from a given, as RideMPS.com/AMSOIL Honda’s Layne Michael took over the lead on the opening lap and led the first two laps, with Davis and Factory Husqvarna-supported rookie Craig DeLong shadowing him.
But Davis moved into the lead on lap three, and he was able to put some distance between himself and the rest of the XC2 field. Michael and DeLong battled over the runner-up spot during the final two laps, but the veteran Michael was able to prevail over the exuberant rookie DeLong to land second place. DeLong, the recently crowned 250cc A Champion, finished third, making the podium in just his second XC2 Pro Lites appearance.
In other action, reigning WXC Champion, Kacy Martinez, joined the boys in the afternoon race at the Ironman, competing in the Four-Stroke Lites A class. Martinez was 10th off the start and finished 15th overall in her class.
“It was definitely more tiring racing in the Four-Stroke Lites A class today,” Martinez said. “I had a lot of fun but the track was rough and it got pretty challenging near the end of the day. It was still a great experience and I am glad for the opportunity.”
AMSOIL Ironman GNCC
Ironman Raceway
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Results: October 26, 2014 (Round 13 of 13)
XC1 Pro
1. Kailub Russell-KTM
2. Josh Strang-Yam
3. Ryan Sipes-KTM
4. Andrew DeLong-Hus
5. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
6. Jordan Ashburn-Yam
7. Takeshi Koikeda-Hon
8. Paul Whibley-Yam
9. Grant Baylor-KTM
10. Charlie Mullins-KTM
AMSOIL GNCC Final National Championship Standings (After 13 of 13 rounds)
1. Kailub Russell-348/9 wins
2. Josh Strang-241/1 win
3. Jordan Ashburn-223
4. Charlie Mullins-208/3 wins
5. Grant Baylor-202
6. Andrew Delong-178
7. Paul Whibley-177
8. Steward Baylor Jr.-134
9. Chris Bach-123
10. Ricky Russell-117
XC2 Pro Lites
1. Nick Davis-KTM
2. Layne Michael-Hon
3. Craig DeLong-Hus
4. Scott Grills-Kaw
5. Sam Evans-KTM
6. Alex Teagarden-Yam
7. Mark Heresco-KTM
8. Ian Blythe-KTM
9. Lucas Statom-Yam
10. Mat Herrington-KTM
AMSOIL GNCC XC2 Pro Lites Final Series Standings (After 13 of 13 rounds)
1. Grant Baylor-322
2. Trevor Bollinger-253
3. Ricky Russell-233
4. Layne Michael-177
5. Nick Davis-162
6. Callan May-151
7. Sam Evans-141
8. Jesse Groemm-119
9. Shane Hufford Jr.-114
10. Jed Haines-105
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