Round three of the 2018 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, an AMA National Championship took place in Washington, Georgia at Aonia Pass MX on Sunday, March 18.
A battle ensued all day long between FMF/KTM Factory Racing's Kailub Russell and Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing's Thad Duvall. K. Russell eventually crossed the line 2.4 seconds ahead of Duvall to earn his third-straight win of the season.
Russell got a good jump off the line, and earned himself the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot award, and as they headed into the woods Duvall had a small bobble in the third corner. Coming through on lap one, AmPro Yamaha's Ricky Russell found himself in the number one spot. After holding off the rest of the XC1 Pro class, misfortune struck the Yamaha rider and he was forced to retire for the remainder of the race.
As the racing continued, it was JCR/Honda's Trevor Bollinger and BETA USA's Jordan Ashburn who took up the battle on the second lap. Coming through pro row on lap two, the riders were a mere second apart from each other. Tely Energy Racing/KTM's Steward Baylor Jr. made his way through the pack, ultimately pulling ahead at the end of the three-hour race with Bollinger hot on his heels for the third place position. S. Baylor would end the day on the podium in third place while Bollinger would hold on to finish fourth.
