there was kind of an S-turn up on a
ridge. I got sideways and just flew
off the bank. I somehow saved
it. Just shook it off and charged
through from there and made some
good passes and finished fourth."
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's
Craig Delong turned in his most
impressive performance of the
season, finishing fifth overall and
winning the XC2 Pro 250 class
third, but I'm happy to be back on
the podium."
Ben Kelley nearly grabbed
the holeshot, but went into turn
one a little hot, allowing Russell
to sneak underneath. However,
he managed to take the lead but
crashed hard over a bluff and
threw it away.
"I was in third place, because
Cory Buttrick passed me, and then
OFF-ROAD
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES, PRESENTED BY SPECIALIZED
ROUND 7 / JUNE 28, 2020
MILLFIELD, OHIO
P56
great all day, energy-wise, but I
felt like I rode okay. Just that 20
seconds again. I just couldn't
do anything about it. Sometimes
you'd get on the gas and the
rear end would just light up.
Other times the front would wash
on you. So, you just had to be
careful and ride to the condi-
tions. That's why it was harder. I
felt like you could have pushed
harder, but if you pushed harder
you ended up crashing. So it
was a bit frustrating there today
but it was all right."
Grant Baylor gave Factory-
ONE Sherco its second podium
of the season with another third
overall. The South Carolina na-
tive got off to a poor start, which
is nothing new, but managed to
charge his way to within eight
seconds of Strang in second
place on the final lap.
"The bike just didn't want to
fire for some reason, but we
got going and started making
our way through the pack," said
Baylor. "I think I made my way
up to fifth or something on the
first lap. Then on lap two I might
have been fourth and the next
lap I might have been third. Then
just kind of stayed there the rest
of the race. I hit the ground a
couple times today, so it wasn't
a flawless day. I caught Strang
about two miles from the end. I
was right up on his rear wheel
and just spun out and fell down,
so that cost me being able to
maybe make a move there in the
last little bit. We had to settle with
Josh Strang
continues to be
Russell's closest
challenger.
