GNCC

Kailub Russell Captures Eighth Victory of 2015 at the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC

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Factory FMF/KTM rider Kailub Russell continued to prove himself, earning the top spot on the podium once again.

Round nine of The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, gave Russell his eighth victory of the season. The AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC was held at the largest ski resort in West Virginia, Snowshoe Mountain.

The current XC1 Pro points leader Russell began on the first row of the unique live engine start, replicating the start of GNCC's birth race the Blackwater 100. After taking the early lead, Russell would start to feel pressure from Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/FAR's and West Virginia's own Thad DuVall. DuVall made the pass on lap three and continued to lead until Russell made the pass back on lap seven. He would hold onto second place

"I kind of rode around there for about half the race, and once I got everything figured out I went for it and was able to pull the lead at the end," said Russell.
The AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC replicates the start of GNCC's birth race the Blackwater 100 - Credit: Ken Hill
After struggling in the first half of the season the difficult Snowshoe track conditions didn't slow down the N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn. He walked away with his first podium of the season, rounding out the top three in the XC1 class.

"I'm just happy to be back where I know I should and can be," reported Ashburn, "I've had struggles and I hate it has taken this long, but I'm good now."

In addition to the full GNCC schedule, AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna backed rider Ryan Sipes has been busy with racing the past two rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. He has been improving all season finishing second at the past two rounds. Unfortunately Sipes injured his knee, ultimately ending his day.

"I hit my knee on something, I'm not sure if it was a rock or handlebar," said Sipes, "but it swelled up and I couldn't hang on anymore or use my knees to grip."

JCR Honda's Chris Bach maintained a consistent placement throughout the race and finished fourth, followed by N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Grant Baylor in fifth and Factory FMF/KTM's Taylor Robert in sixth.

Moto-Tech KTM's Steward Baylor takes home seventh place, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Daniel Milner in eighth giving the Australian one of his best results of the year, Funmart Cycle/FLY/RidePG.com's Adam Bonneur in ninth and Maxxis/Fly/Factory Connection's Chris Douglas finished out the XC1 Pro top ten.
West Virginia's own Thad DuVall finished out the toughest race in second place - Credit: Ken Hill
The XC2 Pro Lites hosted an eventful race with DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM's Jason Thomas and E&H Honda's Trevor Bollinger swapping first and second place throughout the three-hour race.

At the end of the race, it would be Thomas who came out on the top spot of the podium. XC2 class rookie, KTM/St. Lawrence Radiology/Factory Connection's Mike Witkowski also earned his first-ever XC2 podium finish with a third in the class and 11th overall.

Raines Riding University/Atlas Yamaha/OffRoadViking.com's Ricky Russell found himself just one position away from the podium taking home fourth place. Husqvarna Support Rider Craig DeLong followed Russell in fifth and Honda's Layne Michael in sixth.

Tegan Temple improved from his last finish at the John Penton, taking seventh place home. Cory Buttrick, Jesse Groemm and Samuel Evans round out the XC2 Pro Lites top 10.
Jordan Ashburn excelled in the difficult Snowshoe terrain, earning his first podium of the season - Credit: Ken Hill
XC1 Event Results:
Kailub Russell (KTM)
Thaddeus Duvall (HSQ)
Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
Chris Bach (HON)
Grant Baylor (YAM)
Taylor Robert (KTM)
Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
Daniel Milner (YAM)
Adam Bonneur (KTM)
Chris Douglas (KTM)

Overall National Championship Standings
Kailub Russell (265)
Thad DuVall (167)
Grant Baylor (166)
Chris Bach (153)
Ryan Sipes (145)
Josh Strang (138)
Jordan Ashburn (132)
Takeshi Koikeda (101)
Adam Bonneur (99)
Chris Douglas (97)
XC2 Podium: Jason Thomas (center), Trevor Bollinger (left) and Mike Witkowski (right) Photo: Ken Hill
XC2 Event Results:
Jason Thomas (KTM)
Trevor Bollinger (HON)
Michael Witkowski (KTM)
Ricky Russell (YAM)
Craig Delong (HSQ)
Layne Michael (HON)
Tegan Temple (KTM)
Cory Buttrick (BET)
Jesse Groemm (BET)
Samuel Evans (KTM)

XC2 Series Standings:
Jason Thomas (222)
Ricky Russell (158)
Craig Delong (155)
Trevor Bollinger (143)
Layne Michael (142)
Nick Davis (125)
Cory Buttrick (122)
Tegan Temple (113)
Austin Lee (95)
Callan May (87)

Top Image: Kailub Russell was victorious at the Snowshoe GNCC, earning his eighth win of the season

Credit: Ken Hill

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