Source: Supplied.

The third round of the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series took place on 3 April at the Steele Creek Campground in Morganton, North Carolina with the 16th Annual FMF Steele Creek GNCC.

With a mix of sun and mild temperatures the groundwork was laid for one of the best races thus far in the season. At the end of the grueling three-hour race it was FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell who claimed the overall win.

As the green flag dropped it was Russell’s teammate, Charlie Mullins who headed into the woods first earning himself the $125 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award.

Mullins would quickly take charge of the race and pull a twenty second lead over the rest of the pack within the first three minutes of the race.

By the second lap, Russell had worked his way from the back of the pack to second place where he caught up with Mullins at the three mile marker. Russell was able to make the move for the lead in an open field section.

With a quick check back Russell turned his focus on extending his lead by valuable seconds. Mullins would eventually fade back on the third lap allowing for JCR Honda/Lucas Oil/Maxxis/FLY Racing’s Chris Bach and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing/Bel-Ray’s Josh Strang to slide by.

With the added momentum, Bach quickly caught back up to Russell and took over the lead. It was Bach, Russell and Strang fighting for the lead on the third lap.

After spending a lap following Bach, Russell put his head down and took back over the lead ultimately crossing the finish line a whole minute before second place.

After hitting a hole at high speed, Mullins was out of the race where he suffered from too much pain in his wrists. With a last lap pass, Strang was able to salvage extra points with a second place finish.

Strang still continues to hold onto the points lead, with Russell sitting in second just nine points behind. Bach made his first podium appearance of the season where he rounded out the overall podium in third.

“I’m not happy with a second place after getting the first two wins,” said Strang. “I struggled in the first half of the race and when I finally put it all together I was too far back. I’ll take it for this round, but my plan is to be back in the middle of the box at Big Buck.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing/Bel-Ray’s Ryan Sipes had a season-best finish and just missed the podium with fourth overall.

Strang’s countryman N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha-backed Daniel Milner followed behind Sipes in the XC1 Pro division, but crossed the line seventh overall.

The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes 16-17 April with the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina.