Source: Supplied.

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell has claimed his 40th career victory at Ironman’s season finale of the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) championship in Crawfordsville, USA, last weekend.

Russell, who was crowned the XC1 Pro champion for the fourth-consecutive year at the previous round, positioned himself in the lead throughout the early stages of the race before going onto take a commanding win.

Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Team’s Thad Duvall fought hard to match the pace of Russell, although he was forced to settle for second, crediting him fourth in the championship.

Grant Baylor (N-Fab AmPro Yamaha) rounded out the podium in third after overcoming his brother Steward Baylor Jnr, who was forced to to withdraw on the final lap of the race due to a mechanical malfunction.

The top five was rounded out by Ricky Russell (MCS Racing Suzuki) and Russell Bobbitt (FMF KTM Factory Racing), while Australian Josh Strang (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) opted out of the event due to an injury sustained at the ISDE earlier this month in Spain.

Despite his absence, Strang held a strong enough advantage over third-place holder Jordan Ashburn (N-Fab AmPro Yamaha) to claim second in the championship.