KTM's Russell scores fifth consecutive GNCC win, Strang top five
Factory FMF/KTM's Kailub Russell has scored his fifth consecutive victory at round 11 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), the inaugural Car-Mate Gusher in North-western Pennsylvania.
Mullins and Russell head off the field for round 11.
Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell has scored his fifth consecutive victory at round 11 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), the inaugural Car-Mate Gusher in North-western Pennsylvania.
Russell’s teammate in the premier XC1 class Charlie Mullins took the early holeshot, leading the field into the woods. Russell ran second, with AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn third, Shenandoah Honda/USWE-Sports.com’s Thad DuVall fourth and Rocky Mountain ATV/MC’s Josh Strang rounding out the top five.
This lead pack stayed in close quarters for the first hour of the three-hour showdown, with the positions changing back and forth.
By lap two it was Russell who made the decisive pass for the lead, with the Yamaha-mounted Ashburn moving into second after a mistake from Mullins.
An unplanned pitstop for bike adjustments saw Duvall drop back from the pack, and up front the order was restored as the recovering Mullins moved back into second.
The KTM teammates fought back and forth for the lead over the second lap, but Russell surged forth for the win when Mullins was also forced to pit.
“The dirt was great and it had good traction,” said Russell. “For a track up north I couldn’t believe how well it managed the rain, I was pretty pumped once I got out there!”
“We’re just taking it race by race [for the championship]. Charlie has been riding really good this year and so have the rest of the guys so it’s going to be a tough next couple of rounds for sure.”
Mullins’ stop for adjustments was a brief one, allowing him to hold on to second for the day, and in the title race.
“It was an okay day today but I felt like I made a lot of mistakes. Kailub and I went back and forth a couple times and I felt like we had a good pace going out there,” Mullins said.
“I got out of here with some okay points and I’m healthy to go to Italy, and then we’ll come back strong for Ohio.”
Duvall was able to reel in Ashburn to take third, displacing the Yamaha rider to fourth. Strang took a strong top five finish.
Russell’s points lead over Mullins extends to seven following the round 11 clash, with Chris Bach holding down third, close to 100 points off the leading duo.
In the XC2 class, Husqvarna’s Andrew DeLong took the win following a race-long battle with KTM’s Jason Thomas.
Kawasaki rider Scott Grills took third, with Shane Hufford and Grant Baylor rounding out the top five.
Baylor’s consistent finish keeps him in the XC2 class lead, 28 points clear of DeLong.
Round 12 of the 2013 GNCC will be held at Ohio’s Powerline Park on 12-13 October.
2013 Grand National Cross Country Series
Round 11 – The Gusher, Foxburg PA
XC1 event results:
1. KAILUB RUSSELL
2. CHARLES MULLINS
3. THADDEUS DUVALL
4. JORDAN ASHBURN
5. JOSH STRANG
6. CHRISTOPHER BACH
7. TAKESHI KOIKEDA
8. ADAM BONNEUR
9. RORY MEAD
10. MARK FORTNER
XC1 championship standings (after round 11 of 13):
1. KAILUB RUSSELL 290
2. CHARLES MULLINS 280
3. JOSH STRANG 190
4. THADDEUS DUVALL 190
5. CHRISTOPHER BACH 187
6. JORDAN ASHBURN 157
7. PAUL WHIBLEY 143
8. TAKESHI KOIKEDA 139
9. ADAM BONNEUR 133
10. RORY MEAD 131
XC2 event results:
1. ANDREW DELONG
2. JASON THOMAS
3. SCOTT GRILLS
4. SHANE HUFFORD
5. GRANT BAYLOR
6. CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS
7. SAMUEL EVANS
8. NICK DAVIS
9. RYAN LOJAK
10. ZACH LOVE
XC2 championship standings (after round 11 of 13):
1. GRANT BAYLOR 243
2. JASON THOMAS 215
3. ANDREW DELONG 181
4. SHANE HUFFORD 149
5. SCOTT GRILLS 118
6. TRAVIS COY 106
7. SAMUEL EVANS 105
8. LAYNE MICHAEL 104
9. AJ STEWART 102
10. CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS 101
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