Kailub Russell Wins 7th Annual AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC

KTM boys (and girl) clean house as Russell and Baylor extend points leads with class wins, while Kacy Martinez lands another Wonmen’s title in West Virgnia.

Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell and KTM support rider Grant Baylor continued their march toward back-to-back AMSOIL GNCC Series championships in their respective classes with wins in the 7th Annual AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC at Snowshoe Mountain ski resort in Snowshoe, West Virginia, Sunday.

And it wasn’t just about the KTM men. While Russell claimed the overall win with another dominant run in round nine of the series, crossing the finish line over 3 minutes ahead of the next XC1 Pro finisher, the KTM factory team’s flying female, Kacy Martinez, locked up her first career WXC class title.

Russell got a good jump on the field from his starting position on the front row, but a few of the series tougher competitors got in line behind him and challenged him early in the race, as Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Strang, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn and Baylor all got good starts too. RideMPS.com/AMSOIL/Honda’s Thad DuVall was the real man on the move, however, charging up from the third row to move into the second place position. Factory Husqvarna rider Andrew Delong was also among the frontrunners by lap two, and he would battle back and forth with DuVall and Ashburn throughout the first three laps.

With about a 20-second advantage on adjusted time in his pocket, DuVall, who hails from West Virginia, actually took the overall led on the fourth lap, only suffer mechanical trouble that ultimately forced him out of the race.

Russell maintained a good pace as the Snowshoe Mountain course conditions continued to deteriorate in the afternoon, building what would prove to be an insurmountable lead. Ashburn ran second overall to land a career-best AMSOIL GNCC performance and Delong put a solid ride together to finish third and capture his first career XC1 podium finish. Factory FMF/KTM’s Steward Baylor Jr. came from way from outside the top 10 on the first lap to finish fifth overall and fourth in the XC1 Pro class, just ahead of Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s Chris Bach. Strang finished sixth in the XC1 class and ninth overall.

Baylor and Trevor Bollinger battled head to head all day, swapping the lead in the XC2 Pro Lites class. Baylor was in front when it counted, however, finishing fourth overall in the process, while Bollinger fnished second in the XC2 Pro Lites class and sixth overall. Pennsylvania’s Nick Davis put his KR4 Arrive-N-Ride KTM atop the XC2 Pro Lites podium for the second straight week with an impressive charge late in the race. Maxxis/KLIM/DirtWise KTM Race Team’s Jesse Groemm finished fourth in the class, while Raines Riding University/Atlas Cycles’ Ricky Russell completed out the top five.

Indiana’s Mike Witkowski earned the $125 American Kargo Top Amateur Award with 17th overall, while grabbing the 250cc A class win at Snowshoe.

West Virginia’s very own Stephen Thaxton captured the overall victory and the Super Senior A 45+ win in the 10 a.m. race, edging out rival Ricky Matteson, who finished second overall and in the class. The 200cc C class winner Coalton Cupp put himself into third overall with an impressive last-lap charge.

FMF/KTM’s Kacy Martinez recorded her eighth WXC win of the season at Snowshoe Mountain, and that was good enough to clinch her first career WXC Championship. KR4 Arrive-N-Ride’s Brooke Cosner captured her first career podium with a second place finish in the class, while Virginia native Sarah Baldwin finished third.

South Carolina’s Cole Mattison made it six wins in a row when he scored the Youth overall victory, as well as the Super Mini (14-15) class win. Mattison was joined on the podium by Pennsylvania’s Austin Bryant, who finished second, and Alabama’s Kyler Godwin, who finished third.

With nine rounds in the books, the AMSOIL GNCC Series moves into its summer break. Racing is scheduled to resume in October with round 10, Can-Am Unadilla GNCC at the fabled Unadilla Raceway in New Berlin, New York, September 6-7.

AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC
Snowshoe Mountain
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Results: June 22, 2014 (Round 9 of 13)

XC1
1. Kailub Russell-KTM
2. Jordan Ashburn-Yam
3. Andrew Delong-Hus
4. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
5. Chris Bach-Hon
6. Josh Strang-Yam
7. Jason Thomas-KTM
8. Paul Whibley-Yam
9. Jesse Robinson-Yam
10. Ryan Sipes-KTM

AMSOIL GNCC Series Overall National Championship Standings (After 9 of 13 rounds)*
1. Kailub Russell-233/6 wins
2. Charlie Mullins-180/3 wins
3. Josh Strang-165
4. Jordan Ashburn-154
5. Grant Baylor-134
6. Paul Whibley-123
7. Andrew Delong-119
8. Ricky Russell-109
9. Steward Baylor-102
10. Chris Bach-92
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2014 National Champion.

XC2
1. Grant Baylor-KTM
2. Trevor Bollinger-Hon
3. Nick Davis-KTM
4. Jesse Groemm-KTM
5. Ricky Russell-Yam
6. Chris Douglas-KTM
7. Zach Love-KTM
8. Jedediah Haines-Yam
9. Sam Evans-KTM
10. Layne Michael-Hon

XC2 Class Standings (After 9 of 13 rounds)
1. Grant Baylor-232
2. Ricky Russell-215
3. Trevor Bollinger-185
4. Layne Michael-127)
5. Shane Hufford Jr.-114
6. Jesse Groemm-108
7. Callan May-101
8. Sam Evans-100
9. Chris Douglas-99
10. Jedediah Haines-87