Despite his first-lap problems,
Russell managed to pick his way
through the pack, taking over the
lead on lap five, then he held off
a final challenge from Rockstar
Energy Husqvarna Factory racer
Thad Duvall to claim the "W."
More than 400 riders filled the
maha) for the honors. However,
Duvall, last year's series runner-
up and 2018 title hopeful, soon
took control of the race, as he
led Steward Baylor (Tely Energy
KTM) and Trevor Bollinger (JRC
Honda) through the remainder of
the first lap.
knew what Kailub was doing, he
was doing the same thing and
just letting those guys do all the
work."
It was a four-man race for most
of the first two hours, with Rus-
sell, Duvall, Baylor, and Bollinger
running in a tight formation at
OFF-ROAD
AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES, AN AMA
P80
grid for the afternoon race (1900
total riders for the day), as a light
morning rain made for excellent
conditions at the Big Buck Farm.
The 17.7-mile course tacked up
just right, making for rough and
challenging conditions.
Josh Strang (Rockstar En-
ergy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
grabbed the holeshot to start the
three-hour race, barely edging
out Ricky Russell (Am-Pro Ya-
Baylor, who won this race last
year, soon had his turn at the
front, as Duvall dropped back
and settled into a steady pace.
"I really didn't want to push that
hard at the start of the race; the
first race you never really know
where you're at," said Duvall.
"Steward and Trevor were riding
on the edge, so I just kind of laid
back and rode my own race and
tucked in behind those guys. I
the front of the pack. Bollinger
dropped off the pace after the
halfway point, as the trio of Rus-
sell, Duvall and Baylor ran away
from the field with two laps to go.
Baylor kept Russell and Duvall
in sight until a rock from Duvall's
rear tire hit him in the mouth,
chipping three of his front teeth.
"I was going up the hill climb
and the rock hit me just right
under the helmet," said Baylor.
ROUND 1 / FEBRUARY 26, 2018
UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA
