OFF-ROAD
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES, PRESENTED BY SPECIALIZED
ROUND 1 / FEBRUARY 23, 2020
BIG BUCK FARM / UNION, SC
P72
from the pack, putting distance on
everyone except Ricky Russell, who
appeared to be the only rider to come
close to matching Kailub's speed.
Behind the two Russells, Babbitt's
Online/Monster Energy/Team Green
Kawasaki teammates Jordan Ashburn
and Josh Strang battled with Duvall
and Michael for third. Meanwhile, new
FactoryONE Sherco signees Steward
and Grant Baylor got off to relatively
slow starts, with Grant sitting outside
the top-10, while Steward was barely
inside the top-10 at ninth.
The Baylor brothers spent most
of the race moving up through the
guys down, and I just held that pace
through the whole race, basically. Just
a really solid pace that I knew would
be tough to hang onto and was able to
pull it in."
Nearly 400 riders signed up to do
battle in the afternoon classes, as rain
leading up to the race left the Big Buck
course in near-perfect conditions.
Kailub grabbed the holeshot and led
Ricky Russell, new AmPro Yamaha
recruit Layne Michael, Rockstar Energy
Husqvarna's Thad Duvall and Jordan
Ashburn into the woods to start the
opening lap.
Kailub immediately broke away
Russell took the win in what will be his
last season racing full time.
Josh Strang got
his season off
to a good start
with a podium.
