IN
THE
WIND
P40
EIGHT IS GREAT FOR RUSSELL
AT MOUNTAINEER GNCC
T
he 2016 AMSOIL Grand Na-
tional Cross Country (GNCC)
Series presented by Maxxis, an
AMA National Championship,
spent the weekend in Mason-
town, West Virginia, for the fifth
annual Rocky Mountain ATV-
MC Mountaineer Run GNCC,
September 25. FMF/KTM
Factory Racing's Kailub Russell
continued his dominance at the
11th round where he earned his
eighth overall win of the season
ahead of Thad Duvall, while
Ricky Russell finished third for
his career-first XC1 podium fin-
ish.
MCS Racing Suzuki/Ober-
meyer's Ricky Russell jumped
out to the early lead and earned
the $250 All Balls Racing Hole-
shot Award. Russell was able to
use his good start to his ad-
vantage and avoid the first turn
pileup that involved Lojak Cycle
Sales/JTR OffRoad's Jason
Thomas and Westfield Powers-
ports KTM's Jordan Ashburn.
Misfortune would strike Ricky
Russell in the third turn, how-
ever, allowing SRT/KTM's Cory
Buttrick to lead the way into the
woods. Buttrick maintained the
lead position as he checked
through timing and scoring for
the first time. After getting off to
an unfavorable start, Kailub Rus-
sell made quick work of the field
and moved past Buttrick into the
lead with Rocky Mountain ATV-
MC/KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Team's
Thad Duvall in tow.
"As easy as it may look
sometimes, it's never easy," said
Kailub Russell. "The track was
pretty brutal with the dusty and
hard-packed conditions, and it
really takes a toll on your body
and you just have to be patient. I
got a terrible start and I was just
impatient after that and contin-
ued to push through."
Ricky Russell was determined
to return to the front pack after
his crash at the start. While
Kailub Russell was beginning
to pull a gap on Duvall, Ricky
Russell was closing in on Duvall
from behind.
In the end, Kailub Russell
crossed the line 54 seconds
ahead of Duvall. Ricky Russell
grabbed the last spot on the
box for his first-ever XC1 Pro
podium and first podium for his
Obermeyer/MCS Racing Suzuki
team.
"I got off to a great start and
Kailub Russell
continued his
winning ways in
West Virginia,
taking his
eighth GNCC
win of the
season.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
KEN
HILL
