AMSOIL AMA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES, PRESENTED BY MAXXIS
BY JEN KENYON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN HILL
T
he fifth round of the Amsoil
AMA Grand National Cross
Country Series presented
by Maxxis turned out to be a piv-
otal moment in the chase for the
2014 National Championship.
While it's clear that the outcome
is almost always best for the guy
who wins the race, it's often
times just as important to strat-
egize how you lose.
With one GNCC title apiece,
Factory FMF/KTM riders Char-
lie Mullins and Kailub Russell
have experienced the glory that
comes along with being the best
in their sport. But both riders
have also faced the heartache
that comes with defeat and, in-
terestingly enough, it's been the
same head-to-head battle be-
tween the 2011 GNCC Champion
Mullins and reigning champ Kai-
lub Russell that has showcased
it all. Having experienced both
the highs and the lows, Mullins
and Russell seem to have an un-
derstanding that championships
aren't necessarily won on your
best days and that could play a
factor in this season's exciting
championship battle.
For Mullins, Sunday's victory
at the Dunlop Limestone 100 was
exactly what he needed to keep
his championship hopes rolling
as the 13-round series approach-
es its halfway point. Coming into
VOL. 51 ISSUE 17 APRIL 29, 2014 P93
Steward Baylor (514) gets off to a
fast start in the XC1 Pro class.
Charlie Mullins takes over points lead
with a big win at the Limestone 100
mullins
turns up the heat
