GNCC

Kailub Russell Makes it Two-in-a-Row at Wild Boar GNCC

Tayla Jones gets second class win of the season

Posted:

Tuesday, March 13th, 2018

2:16 AM

Kailub Russell took home the win at the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC, round two in Palatka, Florida. Photo: Ken Hill

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, an AMA National Championship continued this past Sunday, March 11 with the 4th Annual Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC.

FMF/KTM Factory Racing's Kailub Russell came away with his second consecutive win of the 2018 season, and his third win in the state of Florida.

When the green flag flew it was KTM/Thor/Parts Canada's Kaven Benoit who came away with the $250 All Balls Racing holeshot. However, Tely Energy Racing/KTM's Steward Baylor Jr. took over the lead after heading into the woods. S. Baylor battled through the first couple laps, and held onto the lead until the fourth lap, where K. Russell would eventually takeover until the checkered flag came out.

Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing's Josh Strang got off to an excellent start, and held onto the second place position for the first three out of six laps. Strang ultimately finished sixth at the end of the three-hour race after battling through the deep field of XC1 Open Pro riders.

Kaven Benoit took home the $250 All Balls Racing holeshot award with Josh Strang in close company. Photo: Ken Hill

Fellow Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing's Thad Duvall once again proved that he has what it takes to run at the front of the pack. Duvall fought back from a mid-pack start, occasionally contending for the third and fourth position finishes. Duvall ended up rounding out the podium at the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC.

Starting off just inside the top 10 overall was JCR/Honda's Trevor Bollinger. Bollinger steadily moved up throughout the race, battling for a podium position at one point, but would finish off this Sunday afternoon's three hour race podium with a fourth place finish. KR4/Husqvarna's Layne Michael had a decent Sunday afternoon in Florida. Michael came around the track on lap one in 10th place, but soon found himself battling for a top five position. The Husqvarna rider crossed the line in the fifth place position.

Australian Josh Strang had an impressive ride this weekend in Florida. Photo: Ken Hill

After an impressive start to the 2018 season, Trail Jesters KTM Racing's Ben Kelley earned his first-ever XC2 250 Pro class win. Kelley and FMF/KTM Factory Racing's Josh Toth battled back and forth all afternoon, but it would be Kelley who prevailed coming through the last couple miles. However at the start of the XC2 250 Pro race, KR4/Husqvarna's Liam Draper walked away with the $100 Hot Cams holeshot award before finishing out the day with an eighth place finish.

Coastal Racing Husqvarna's Pascal Rauchenecker held down the third place position throughout the three-hour long race in Florida. Rauchenecker has finished third place at the Big Buck and Wild Boar GNCC races, and looks to be a rider to keep an eye on in the future rounds. Teammate, Craig Delong ran third for the first part of the day, but would fall to Rauchenecker at the halfway point.

As the 10 a.m. amateur race started, it was GasGas/FAR's Korie Steede who took the holeshot and lead as they headed into the woods. When they came through the finish after lap one it was KR4/Husqvarna's Tayla Jones followed by Fly Racing/Maxxis/Seat Concepts KTM-backed rider Becca Sheets and Beta USA's Rachel Gutish in third. Jones, Sheets and Gutish would remain in the top three positions throughout the five lap race, and Jones would earn her second win the season.

Ben Kelley earned his first-ever XC2 250 Pro class win after making the pass in the last couple miles. Photo: Ken Hill

The 2018 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes in one week March 17 and 18, in Washington, Georgia with The Maxxis General GNCC.

Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC Palatka, Florida
Round 2 of 13 - Sunday, March 11

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