VOL. 52 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 15, 2015 P67
zenith of American off-road accomplishments in
2015. In August, he wrapped up the Kenda Full
Gas Sprint Enduro Championship after win-
ning five of the eight points-paying races. A third
consecutive GNCC title and his first-ever AMA
National Enduro crown were only a late Septem-
ber roll through the woods away. He had won
eight of the nine GNCC races and had enough
points to clinch at round 10 of 13. In Enduro he
had been consistent enough to end the chase at
the penultimate round. However, the 90th ISDE in
Slovakia came before that business could be but-
toned up and Russell's efforts after day one—Sep-
tember 7—put him and Team USA at the top of the
individual and overall World Trophy standings.
On the morning of day three, Team USA sat
second overall but Russell's right knee was hurt-
ing him so much he couldn't straighten it or put
weight on it. In the final special test of day two,
he dabbed his foot and
caught his toe on the
ground, which twisted
the lower right leg and
knee. His times were
not affected and he was
individually third overall
and first in the E1 divi-
sion. Despite the stiff-
ness and the pain that
shot through his knee
when he made the slight
rotation inward to reach
the brake pedal, Russell
won the first special test
of day three. In the sec-
ond test he dropped into
a ditch and jammed his
right leg into the ground. The knee straightened
completely and he heard a loud "pop." He didn't
crash but he knew he was in trouble because the
pain was so dire he folded over the handlebars.
"I couldn't stand and I couldn't get my foot on
the peg," Russell said. "I finished but I wasn't rid-
ing well. I knew then my Six Days was over."
Team USA physician, Dr. James McGee said
the support staff was aware of Russell's pain and
he was ready at a checkpoint between tests two
and three. On the side of the trail they pulled Kai-
lub's riding pants down, and jammed a needled
directly into the middle of the knee joint to start
draining it. McGee looked up at Jeff Russell, Kai-
lub's father, a six-time ISDE Team USA member
and the 1991 AMA National Enduro champion.
"If we don't see blood come out, we're good,"
McGee said. Blood poured into the syringe im-
mediately.
…TO GET
ANYTHING
OUT OF
KAILUB IN THE
MIDDLE OF
THE RACE IS
PRETTY TOUGH
– JEFF RUSSELL
