VOL. 52 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 15, 2015 P69
it was supported in a riding position at a 75-80
degree bend and modified an Asterisk knee
brace for Russell's specific needs. The brace was
locked in a manner that gave him only a limited
range of motion and an ACL tether was attached
from the brace to the boot. The top of his boot
was also tightly taped to prevent twisting as much
as possible. He couldn't fully stand or sit and he
was advised to never stick his foot out.
"There was pain in his face. I don't know how
he did it." Dr. McGee said of his observation of
Kailub's emotions during the pit stop. "Picture do-
ing a squat for three hours! But when you're going
through a title chase you're willing to go through
some pain."
Kallonen knew that his rider only needed a top
five if Grant Baylor was the winner. At the green
flag his bike didn't start right away and neither
did his body; he felt sluggish and stiff. He spent
the first 90 minutes of the race warming up and
learning to compensate for his weak knee. He
eschewed pre-race shots and medication.
"I wanted to know if I was tearing it up further,"
he said. "I wanted to feel it."
The champ bounced between
seventh and eighth for the first
five laps but at the halfway point
he felt more comfortable and
stronger. On the seventh and final
lap he moved into fourth and set
the fastest time for that split. The
championship was secure but it
was his worst finish of the year and he was sick
about it.
"I've always told Antti, 'The day I can't win is the
day I'm done racing' and that's what Unadilla felt
like," Russell said. "It's really hard for me to think
about being beaten. I can't explain what I've made
myself into. Sometimes I don't like the person I
created when I start racing. I hate losing more
than I love winning."
One week later he had to do it all over again
but this time his scenario was a bit more compli-
cated because three other riders—Russell Bob-
bitt, Steward Baylor and Grant Baylor—were still in
the title chase. Kailub knew he had to beat Bob-
bitt in any scenario and he wasn't optimistic; the
Enduro series wasn't his strongest discipline and
it wasn't even a title he planned on trying to win
when the season started on February 1. Accord-
ing to Kallonen, Russell asked in early January
to ride some Enduro rounds before the GNCC
series began. Two-time champion and KTM rider
Charlie Mullins was still recovering from double
wrist injuries and Kallonen asked Russell what his
plans would be if he did well. They agreed to race
the first three rounds and reevaluate. Russell took
Russell also
won the title in
the fledgling
Full Gas
Sprint Enduro
Championship.
