Shock Doctor/KTM GNCC Race Report

Somerset, PA – The Shock Doctor/KTM Factory GNCC Team had a great weekend at the 7th round of the GNCC Series where XC-2 rider Kailub Russell lengthened his points lead and XC-1 rider Nate Kanney came from a dead last start to finish one spot shy of the podium.

Kanney got a good jump off the start but was pinched off on the inside of the first turn and came around close to dead last in the XC-1 class. He spent the entire race climbing through the pack desperately trying to catch up to the top five riders. Meanwhile, his teammate Kurt Caselli had a decent mid-pack start and was sitting inside the top ten after the first lap. However, on the second lap Caselli made a mistake and crashed hard causing him to return to the pits in order to straighten out his bike. He fell outside of the top ten during the pit but was able to climb his way back up in the second half of the race. Caselli finished 6th overall while his teammate Kanney charged all the way up to 4th.

In the XC-2 class, Russell got the holeshot and led the first couple corners before he was challenged for the lead. A mistake on Russell’s part put him back in 2nd place but by the end of the first lap he regained the lead and never looked back. Russell went on to take another victory in the XC-2 class. His teammate Cory Buttrick also turned in a phenomenal ride. Buttrick actually took the lead at one point early on in the first lap and rode the remainder of the race in a battle with Jason Thomas. Buttrick was barely edged out by Thomas for 2nd place when the checkered flag flew. He still finished on the podium with 3rd overall.

Next Race: Millfield, OH – June 6-7, 2009

Overall Results XC-1 Class:

1. Josh Strang
2. Charles Mullins
3. Barry Hawk
4. Nate Kanney – KTM
5. Glenn Kearney
6. Kurt Caselli – KTM
7. Paul Whibley
8. Jimmy Jarrett
9. Kenneth Gilbert
10. Dustin Gibson

Overall Results XC-2 – Class:

1. Kailub Russell – KTM
2. Jason Thomas
3. Cory Buttrick – KTM
4. Scott Watkins
5. Jake Korn – KTM
6. Eric Bailey – KTM
7. Corey Arbogast
8. Jonathan Woodford
9. Robert Santheson
10. Josh Weisenfels

Overall Point Standings XC-1 Class:

1. Paul Whibley – 159
2. Josh Strang – 155
3. Charles Mullins – 155
4. Jimmy Jarrett – 119
5. Nate Kanney – 106

Overall Point Standings XC-2 Class:

1. Kailub Russell – 186
2. Cory Buttrick – 151
3. Scott Watkins – 138
4. Jason Thomas – 135
5. Jake Korn – 105