Russell wins as Strang podiums in GNCC season-opener
Milner 16th on fulltime debut in American cross country series.
Image: Ken Hill.
The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series, an AMA National Championship, kicked off its 41st annual season on Sunday with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida.
Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell picked up right where he left off last season with a commanding victory in the XC1 Pro Class.
With two consecutive GNCC National Championships behind him, Russell entered the 2015 opener as the heavy favourite.
Russell got off to a favorable start behind N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn, the Holeshot Award winner. Ashburn grabbed the early lead but it didn’t take long for Russell to make his way to the front.
The major battles took place just behind the leader as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Josh Strang went back-and-forth with fellow Husqvarna-mounted riders Ryan Sipes and Thad DuVall early on.
As the trio charged toward the front, JCR Honda’s Chris Bach slowly inched his way into the battle. By the halfway point, Bach had made his way into a podium position while Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4/FAR’s DuVall charged close behind.
AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna-backed Sipes experienced a big crash just after the halfway mark that ultimately hindered his chances at an overall podium finish.
Strang capitalised on that, creating a gap between himself and the third place finisher, however Russell continued to put time on the 2010 GNCC National Champion.
Meanwhile, DuVall caught up to Bach on the final lap as the duo finalised their charge toward a podium finish.
After three grueling hours on one of the most challenging and rough courses that GNCC has to offer, Russell made a big statement with a commanding lead over the rest of the field.
Russell’s win marks his 23rd career overall victory and his first-ever overall win at a season opening round in Florida.
Strang came through over two and a half minutes behind Russell to secure second place overall, while Bach put his JCR Honda atop the third and final podium position.
Despite a hard charge at the end, DuVall finished the day with fourth overall at the season opener. Canadian Motocross Lites Champion Tyler Medaglia made an appearance at the opening round, finishing an impressive fifth overall for the day.
Sipes settled into the sixth place position despite a big crash after the halfway point. N-Fab AmPro Yamaha teammates Grant Baylor and Jordan Ashburn finished seventh and eighth places respectively.
HR Motorsports-backed Takeshi Koikeda finished ninth and Cory Graffunder rounded out the top 10. Meanwhile, Australian Daniel Milner was 16th on the N-Fab AmPro Yamaha.
The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes on 14-15 March with the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Georgia.
2015 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series
Round one – Palatka, Florida
XC1 overall results:
1. Kailub Russell 30
2. Josh Strang (AUS) 25
3. Christopher Bach 21
4. Thaddeus Duvall 18
5. Tyler Medaglia 16
6. Ryan Sipes 15
7. Grant Baylor 14
8. Jordan Ashburn 13
9. Takeshi Koikeda 12
10. Cory Graffunder 11
16. Daniel Milner (AUS) 5
XC1 championship standings:
1. Kailub Russell 30
2. Josh Strang (AUS) 25
3. Christopher Bach 21
4. Thaddeus Duvall 18
5. Tyler Medaglia 16
6. Ryan Sipes 15
7. Grant Baylor 14
8. Jordan Ashburn 13
9. Takeshi Koikeda 12
10. Cory Graffunder 11
16. Daniel Milner (AUS) 5
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