OFF-ROAD
ROUND 1 / FEBRUARY 26, 2018
UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA
P78
AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES, AN AMA
H
aving claimed his fifth consecutive GNCC
title in 2017, Kailub Russell rolled into Union,
South Carolina for the VP Racing Fuels Big
Buck GNCC with the number one plate on his bike
and his sights set on a sixth title. Russell came
into the series opener feeling more prepared than
ever. And despite having the reputation as a slow
starter, the FMF KTM Factory Racing-backed
West Virginian came away with a hard-fought win in
South Carolina. In all of his years of racing the XC1
class, only once previous to this race has Russell
been victorious at the season opener.
"For some reason I've always struggled at
the first round and this one didn't start off any
different," said Russell. "About a quarter mile into
the race I went to grab my CamelBak and get
a drink and I smoked a tree, dropping me from
fourth to last. I was riding kind of tight and it was
kind of hard to pass on that first lap, and any time
I would work up to pass someone I would get
in with a lapper and I ended up having a few big
crashes, which set me back."
KAILUB RUSSELL OFF TO FAST
START IN GNCC OPENER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN HILL AND
DARRIN CHAPMAN
RUSSELL
FIRES FIRST
