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Kailub Russell Wins Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC

March 9, 2015, 9:25am
Press Release Press Release
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  • Kailub Russell Wins Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC

PALATKA, Fla. - The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, kicked off its 41st annual season on Sunday with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. Factory FMF/KTM's Kailub Russell picked up right where he left off last season with a commanding victory in the XC1 Pro Class.

 

Kailub Russell celebrates with a
Kailub Russell celebrates with a "nose wheelie" through the finishline with a victory. Photo: Ken Hill

With two consecutive GNCC National Championships behind him, Russell entered the 2015 opener as the heavy favorite. Russell got off to a favorable start behind N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn, the $250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award winner. Ashburn grabbed the early lead but it didn't take long for Russell to make his way to the front.

Josh Strang put forth a solid second-place ride at the Wild Boar GNCC.
Josh Strang put forth a solid second-place ride at the Wild Boar GNCC. Photo: Ken Hill

The major battles took place just behind the leader as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Josh Strang went back-and-forth with fellow Husqvarna-mounted riders Ryan Sipes and Thad DuVall early on. As the trio charged toward the front, JCR Honda's Chris Bach slowly inched his way into the battle. By the halfway point, Bach had made his way into a podium position while Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4/FAR's DuVall charged close behind.

Chris Bach made his return to the overall podium with a third place finish at round one.
Chris Bach made his return to the overall podium with a third place finish at round one. Photo: Ken Hill

AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna-backed Sipes experienced a big crash just after the halfway mark that ultimately hindered his chances at an overall podium finish. Strang capitalized on that, creating a gap between himself and the third place finisher; however, Russell continued to put time on the 2010 GNCC National Champion. Meanwhile, DuVall caught up to Bach on the final lap as the duo finalized their charge toward a podium finish.

Thad DuVall just narrowly missed the podium at the season opener.
Thad DuVall just narrowly missed the podium at the season opener. Photo: Ken Hill

After three grueling hours on one of the most challenging and rough courses that GNCC has to offer, Factory FMF/KTM's Kailub Russell made a big statement with a commanding lead over the rest of the field. Russell's win marks his 23rd career overall victory and his first-ever overall win at a season opening round in Florida.

Strang came through over two and a half minutes behind Russell to secure second place overall, while Indiana's Chris Bach put his JCR Honda atop the third and final podium position. Despite a hard charge at the end, DuVall finished the day with fourth overall at the season opener.

XC1 podium: (left) Josh Strang, Kailub Russell, (right) Chris Bach.
XC1 podium: (left) Josh Strang, Kailub Russell, (right) Chris Bach. Photo: Ken Hill

Canadian Motocross Lites Champion Tyler Medaglia made an appearance at the opening round, finishing an impressive fifth overall for the day. Medaglia joins an onslaught of Husqvarna machines inside the top ten running with big support from Husky Canada and Parts Canada. Sipes settled into the sixth place position despite a big crash after the halfway point.

Jordan Ashburn took the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award.
Jordan Ashburn took the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. Photo: Ken Hill

N-Fab AmPro Yamaha teammates Grant Baylor and Jordan Ashburn finished seventh and eighth places respectively. HR Motorsports-backed Takeshi Koikeda finished ninth and Cory Graffunder rounded out the top ten.

In the XC2 Pro Lites division it was Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4/FAR's Nick Davis who came away with the first victory of the season at the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC.

Tegan Temple took the $100 Hot Cams XC2 Holeshot Award.
Tegan Temple took the $100 Hot Cams XC2 Holeshot Award. Photo: Ken Hill

Pennsylvania's Tegan Temple shot out to grab the $100 Hot Cams XC2 Pro Lites Holeshot Award but Davis made his way to the front by lap two. Upon recovering from an injury that sidelined him for some time, Raines Riding University/Atlas Yamaha/OffRoadViking.com put in a solid ride to capture the second place position at the season opener.

XC2 podium: (left) Ricky Russell, Nick Davis, (right) Jason Thomas.
XC2 podium: (left) Ricky Russell, Nick Davis, (right) Jason Thomas. Photo: Ken Hill

DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM's Jason Thomas hung on tight in the final laps of the three-hour battle, finishing atop the podium in third place.

Zack Hayes captured the victory in the Open A division, which was good enough to earn a $125 American Kargo Top Amateur Award with 22nd overall.

The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes March 14 and 15 with the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Georgia. For more information on the series, visitgnccracing.com.

Stay up-to-date with exclusive content from the AMSOIL GNCC Series by following the series Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC

Palatka, Florida

Round 1 of 13

Saturday, March 7

XC1 Event Results:

  1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
  2. Josh Strang (HSQ)
  3. Chris Bach (HON)
  4. Thad DuVall (HSQ)
  5. Tyler Medaglia (HSQ)
  6. Ryan Sipes (HSQ)
  7. Grant Baylor (YAM)
  8. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
  9. Takeshi Koikeda (HON)
  10. Cory Graffunder (KTM)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

  1. Kailub Russell (30)
  2. Josh Strang (25)
  3. Chris Bach (21)
  4. Thad DuVall (18)
  5. Tyler Medaglia (16)
  6. Nick Davis (15)
  7. Ryan Sipes (14)
  8. Ricky Russell (13)
  9. Jason Thomas (12)
  10. Grant Baylor (11)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2015 National Champion.

XC2 Event Results:

  1. Nick Davis (HSQ)
  2. Ricky Russell (YAM)
  3. Jason Thomas (KTM)
  4. Tegan Temple (KTM)
  5. Craig Delong (HSQ)
  6. Layne Michael (HON)
  7. Cory Buttrick (BET)
  8. Michael Witkowski (KTM)
  9. Brad Bakken (YAM)
  10. Drew Torrance (KTM)

XC2 Series Standings:

  1. Nick Davis (30)
  2. Ricky Russell (25)
  3. Jason Thomas (21)
  4. Tegan Temple (18)
  5. Craig Delong (16)
  6. Layne Michael (15)
  7. Cory Buttrick (14)
  8. Michael Witkowski (13)
  9. Brad Bakken (12)
  10. Drew Torrance (11)
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