Just two points separate Kailub Russell and Charlie Mullins heading into this weekend’s AMSOIL GNCC round in Indiana; Grant Baylor holds XC2 points lead.
Factory FMF/KTM rider and defending AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Champion Kailub Russell may be enjoying a three-race win streak heading into this weekend’s Dunlop Limestone GNCC, but Russell also has teammate Charlie Mullins hot on his heels.
Then again, while Mullins and Russell are the only riders to capture an overall victory so far this season, they certainly aren’t the only riders capable of winning. In an AMSOIL GNCC season that boasts as stacked a field as any other, several riders have the potential to step in spoil either man’s plans.One if them is Rocky Mountain ATV&MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Strang, who currently sits third in the National Championship standings. Strang has yet to win a round, but he has been the most consistent rider so far this season. He also knows what it takes to run out front, as evidenced by his 2010 GNCC Championship crowd. Look for Strang to be a contender for the Dunlop Limestone 100 win this weekend.
N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn also has a consistent string of finishes through the first four rounds, and he is currently fourth in the standings. Ashburn has one podium finish so far, but a podium finish on Sunday is a real possibility. Ditto for Ashburn’s N-Fab AmPro Yamaha teammate, Paul Whibley, the two-time former AMSOIL GNCC Champion who is currently fifth overall with three solid finishes and one disappointing mechanical failure at round three. Whibley comes to the Dunlop Limestone 100 in need a of strong finish to close the points gap between him and the front three, but the veteran rider certainly has the skills to get the job done.
Competition in the XC2 Pro Lites class has been just as brutal as it has been in the XC1 Pro class, showcasing a tight-knit battle among the top three in the class points standings. A big win at round four of the series put reigning XC2 Pro Lites Champion Grant Baylor back on top of the leaderboard by three points over Raines Riding University/Atlas Cycles’ Ricky Russell, but XC2 rookie Trevor Bollinger is only six points behind Baylor, in third place. Baylor is the only multi-time winner in the class thus far, but he will likely have his hands full while attempting to hold off Bollinger and Russell while he pursues a second consecutive XC2 Pro Lites title.
Close racing isn’t solely a male-dominated trait in the AMSOIL GNCC Series, as the WXC (Women’s) class is currently the stage for an intense battle between Factory FMF/KTM’s Kacy Martinez, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Becca Sheets and Sheets’ teammate Jessica Patterson. At round four, Patterson put an end to Martinez’s three-race winning streak with a big win in South Carolina, and the former Women’s Motocross Champion is hungry for more.
Youth bike racing will take place Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by amateurs and Women at 10 a.m., while the top amateurs and pros race at 1 p.m. Local racers are invited to compete at the Dunlop Limestone 100 as well, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur racer entry fee is $40, and riders can sign up at the track.
Adult (12+) gate admission is $20 for the full weekend and $10 for kids (6-11). Kids five and under are free. All admission includes pro pit access.
Tune into RacerTV.com on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern to catch LIVE coverage of the Pro bike race at Round 5. For more information on GNCC Live coverage, visit www.racertv.com. For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com.
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