INTERVIEW
P158
2013 GNCC CHAMPION KAILUB RUSSELL
which I really didn't know if that
was possible. I had so many
good races in 2012 and was on
the podium a lot and won a lot of
races. But I just went above and
beyond this year; my worst finish
was a second besides a DNF.
So this year was probably one
of the best and most consistent
seasons that two people have put
together, me and Charlie, and I
was very happy to come out on
top."
In 2012, Russell missed the
championship by just four points,
losing to eventual winner Paul
Whibley, although he says the experience taught him a lesson.
"I definitely learned a lot last
"
I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO GO TO
SIX DAYS BECAUSE I WAS STRUGGLING
SO MUCH IN OMAS, AND I JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO BE THERE, AND I DIDN'T WANT
THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE TO CARRY OVER
INTO SOMETHING AS BIG AS ISDE.
year," says Russell. "I had a
pretty bad crash and I hurt my
shoulder in Florida, and I could
have kept on going, but I didn't
and who knows what would have
happened if I had finished that
race instead of pulling in. When
you're not doing good and you're
in pain, then you don't really feel
"
like staying out there, and if I had
stayed out there I might have
been two-time GNCC Champion
by now."
This year, Russell was either
first or second in every round except for the Kentucky race, where
he finished 11th after having to be
towed back to the pits after a me-
