IN
THE
WIND
P30
RUSSELL RE-UPS WITH KTM
G
NCC Champion and reign-
ing National Enduro Cham-
pion Kailub Russell signed a
four-year contract extension with
the FMF KTM Factory Racing
Team. Russell's unprecedented
contract extension includes an
additional four years that will
carry out through the duration of
Russell's racing career.
Russell, 26, began racing
KTM motorcycles at a young
age. Under the FMF KTM Fac-
tory Racing Team, Russell won
two consecutive XC2 Pro Lites
GNCC Championships in 2009
and 2010 before joining the pre-
mier XC1 Pro class in 2011. Rus-
sell won his first XC1 Pro GNCC
Championship in 2013, following
it up with a second title in 2014.
In 2015 Russell represented the
USA World Trophy Team at the
International Six Days Enduro
(ISDE) in Kosice, Slovakia where
he sustained a torn ACL and
other ligament damage while
running as the top American.
Just one month later, Russell
went on to make history as the
first rider to win a GNCC and
National Enduro Championship
in the same year before having
surgery to repair his damaged
knee.
"I'm happy to know that I'm
going to be able to complete my
career where it all began—with
KTM," Russell said. "It's the
only brand I've ever ridden since
they've made a model for each
class so it's only fitting for me
to be loyal to the company that
has provided me with the tools I
need to continue to accomplish
my goals."
"It is one of my career high-
lights to be able to sign Kai-
lub—who has been with KTM
since day one—with a contract
that secures him for the dura-
tion of his racing career," said
Team Manager Antti Kallonen.
"It's such a great feeling to see
a rider that we signed from day
one work so hard for many years
to achieve his current success
and to know that our relationship
will continue throughout the rest
of his racing career." CN
Kailub Russell (center) will most likely finish out his racing career
with KTM after signing a multi-year contract with his current team.
That's Team Manager Antti Kallonen on the left and KTM North
America President Jon-Erik Burleson on the right.
