Image: Ken Hill.

Factory FMF/KTM rider Kailub Russell continued to prove himself, earning the top spot on the podium once again at round nine of the 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series.

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.

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.

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, Funmart Cycle/FLY/RidePG.com’s Adam Bonneur in ninth and Maxxis/Fly/Factory Connection’s Chris Douglas finished out the XC1 Pro top 10.

The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes after summer break on 19-20 September with the Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC.

2015 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series
Round nine – Snowshoe, WV

XC1 Pro results:
1. Kailub Russell
2. Thaddeus Duvall
3. Jordan Ashburn
4. Chris Bach
5. Grant Baylor
6. Taylor Robert
7. Steward Baylor Jr.
8. Daniel Milner (AUS)
9. Adam Bonneur
10. Chris Douglas

Click here for detailed results