Australia’s Josh Strang took his Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Kawasaki to third place in Ohio.

The 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) took to Sunday Creek Raceway in Millfield, Ohio over the weekend where Kailub Russell secured his second XC1 Pro victory of the season.

AmPro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley grabbed yet another All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award to kick off the event, but the Factory FMF/KTM duo of Charlie Mullins and Russell put themselves out front on the opening lap.

Shenandoah Honda/USWE-Sports.com’s Thad DuVall made his way past the defending champ Whibley, where he began his battle with Russell and Mullins in the lead pack.

Whibley battled early on with Australia’s Rocky Mountain ATV/MC rider Josh Strang and AmPro Yamaha teammate Jordan Ashburn before inserting himself into the lead position just before the halfway point.

There were several lead changes throughout the seven-lap race and it didn’t take long for Russell to reclaim the lead around lap four. From there, Russell and Mullins took command of the race, where the KTM duo eventually rode to a 1-2 finish for the day.

While running in podium contention, Thad DuVall experienced issues with his rear shock that ultimately dropped him in the running order.

Strang took advantage of DuVall’s misfortune, putting himself into podium contention at the end of the three-hour race. Strang was able to hold on for third, while Whibley came through in fourth and Carolina KTM/RidePG.com’s Chris Bach rounded out the top five overall.

Mullins and Russell top the national championship standings after seven rounds of racing, while DuVall and Bach sit in third and fourth place respectively. Australia’s Strang sits fifth overall.

The championship chase for the XC2 Pro Lites class became much more interesting as rookie Grant Baylor secured his second win of the season and the all-new points lead following his round seven success.

Coming into the event, F.A.R Husky’s Andrew DeLong injured himself in a pre-race affair, causing the previous championship contender to miss the Ohio round on Sunday.

With DeLong out, several XC2 competitors looked to find a place atop the podium, including Morgantown Powersports-backed rider Layne Michael, who secured his first-ever Digitaloffroad.com Holeshot Award to take the early lead.

But it was DirtWise Schools/KTM-Parts.com/Maxxis rider Jason Thomas who claimed the lead on the opening lap and the defending champ led until lap four when he experienced issues that ultimately took him out of the race.

DeLong’s F.A.R Husky teammate Nick Davis, who charged through the pack after getting a tenth place start, moved his way into podium contention.

Davis battled it out for the second place position with Zach Nolan and Michael McGinnis throughout the afternoon, where he eventually prevailed to secure a season-best second place finish in the class. Nolan was able to hold off McGinnis to take his second podium finish of the season with third place.

Grant Baylor now holds the points lead heading into round eight in two weeks. Thomas sits second in the class standings and DeLong holds the third place position, despite sitting out Sunday’s race.

The GNCC Series now heads to Masontown in West Virginia for the Parts Unlimited Mountaineer Run on 15 June.

Grand National Cross Country (GNCC)
Round seven – Millfield, OH

XC1 Pro overall results:
1. Kailub Russell
2. Charles Mullins
3. Josh Strang (AUS)
4. Paul Whibley
5. Christopher Bach
6. Jordan Ashburn
7. Takeshi Koikeda
8. Adam Bonneur
9. Thaddeus Duvall
10. Ricky Russell

XC1 Pro Lites overall results:
1. Grant Baylor
2. Nick Davis
3. Zach Nolan
4. Michael McGinnis
5. Layne Michael
6. Ian Blythe
7. Christopher Douglas
8. Samuel Haines
9. AJ Stewart
10. Jedediah Haines

Click here for detailed results