Kailub Russell Parts with KTM, Planning GNCC Comeback
Kailub Russell, the eight-time Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) XC1 Overall Champion, is planning a comeback for the 2025 season. Russell retired from off-road racing after capturing his eight-straight crown in 2020, and then attempted to race Pro Motocross in 2021. Since then, he has transitioned into a full-time trainer for KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas off-road factory riders, basing their work at his facilities in Florida and North Carolina. Those racers have experienced plenty of success since, with Ben Kelley, Craig Delong and Johnny Girrior scoring GNCC Overall Championships.
However, we have now heard that Russell, 34, wants to make a comeback in GNCC racing full-time for 2025. That comeback will not happen aboard KTM motorcycles, as rumors throughout the summer have linked him to a new deal with Yamaha.
With December 1 likely being the end of his current contract term, KTM has now issued a press release thanking Russell for his years of service to the brand. Russell raced KTMs through nearly his entire career, dating all the way back to GNCC Youth Titles on minicycles, and two XC2 (250 class) GNCC Championships as well.
Russell is also the first rider in history to win both the GNCC and AMA National Enduro Championships in the same season.
We now wait for word from Russell and Yamaha on a coming deal to return to racing in 2025. Then the hard-core bench racing in off-road circles will begin. Can Russell return to GNCC after three seasons away and still win?
KTM's press release is below.
KTM Thanks Decorated U.S. Off-Road Champion Kailub Russell
MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM North America, Inc. extends its thanks to Kailub Russell following an incredibly successful partnership over more than a decade including his entire professional racing career, which most recently has included training the group’s offroad riders at his Ranch Russell facilities in North Carolina and Florida.
As part of the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team through his legendary racing career, Russell amassed a record eight-consecutive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series Overall Championships between 2013 and 2020 prior to hanging up his helmet from full-time offroad competition at that point of his career.
Russell achieved 67 GNCC Overall victories, which also stands as a record in the high-profile U.S. series, and he has two GNCC XC2 250 Pro Class Championships that he won in 2009 and 2010. In addition, the now 34-year-old claimed an AMA National Enduro Championship in 2015 and is a three-time Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series Champion from 2015, 2019 and 2020.
On an international scale, Russell has twice formed part of Team USA’s winning World Trophy Team effort at the FIM 6DAYS (International Six-Days Enduro), including the 2016 and 2019 editions. All of his championships came onboard KTM machinery, making him one of the most decorated off-road riders in the sport’s history.
Since electing to stop racing himself, Russell has been instrumental in the success of KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS team riders throughout the past four seasons between 2021-2024 in a training and coaching capacity. His knowledge and assistance has led to immense ongoing success, including his contribution with the group to achieve a total of five National and five Regional titles – most notably being the GNCC Overall Championships with Johnny Girroir in 2024 and Craig Delong in 2023.
Antti Kallonen, Director of Offroad Racing: “We want to thank Kailub for his dedication and effort the last four seasons helping our athletes to succeed and win championships for all three of our brands. We want to wish him the best for the future and truly appreciate the championships he won himself and the ones he helped our athletes to win. Thank you, Kailub.”
