FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell wins the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mountaineer Run AMSOIL GNCC in West Virginia, teammate Charlie Mullins finishes second.
Factory FMF/KTM rider Kailub Russell led from start to finish to claim his fourth AMSOIL GNCC victory of the season at the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mountaineer Run, round seven of the AMSOIL GNCC Series, on Mason’s mountain Masontown, West Virginia, Sunday, while his teammate and current points leader, Charlie Mullins, finished second overall.
Russell was fast right from the start of the three-hour race, grabbing his second consecutive $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award and leading Mullins when the two riders led the field into the woods on the opening lap. N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn was third, and Factory Husqvarna’s Andrew Delong was fourth, ahead of Maxxis/KLIM/DirtWise KTM Race Team’s Jason Thomas.
Russell steadily built a cushion over Mullins during the six-lap race, crossing the finish line 1 minute and 47 seconds ahead of Mullins.
“I tried to sprint the first three miles because I wasn’t sure who was behind me and wanted to get a gap,” Russell said. “Once I saw it was Charlie (Mullins), I was able to pace myself and then sprinted again once we got into lappers. I had a pretty uneventful day, which was good for a change. My factory services motor got me off to a good start, and I was able to lead the whole race to take the win.”
“I rang my bell pretty hard during that crash and never really recovered,” Mullins said. “Luckily, I was able to hang on for second place, but I was pretty shook up from that spill.”
Mullins’ gritty determination to make it to the finish allowed him to hold on to the AMSOIL GNCC Series points lead. Mullins still has a seven-point advantage over Russell, 180-173, heading to the next round.
“The next race is in Ohio, which is where I grew up,” Mullins said. “I am looking forward to that event and, hopefully, getting another win.”
Behind the first two finishers, the race hosted an intense battle between Ashburn and Delong, who fought for third place all afternoon. The two were later joined by Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Strang, who didn’t get off to a great start. The Australian native began just inside the top 10 but made quick work to get into the battle for third place.
Ashburn appeared to have third place wrapped up on the final lap, but Strang caught him, and the N-Fab AmPro Yamaha teammates raced into the finish line area together with Strang edging out Ashburn for third place by less than one second. Delong ended up fifth for the day.
XC1 Pro Class Rookie Jason Thomas secured seventh place in the class behind JCR Honda rider Chris Bach but ahead of two-time GNCC Champion and N-Fab AmPro Yamaha rider Paul Whibley in eighth. Rockstar Energy/WMR KTM’s Ryan Sipes came in ninth, while Tom McCormack finished tenth in his XC1 Pro Class debut.
XC2 Pro Lites rookie Trevor Bollinger made his return to the podium by finishing second. Bollinger battled with reigning XC2 Champion Grant Baylor all afternoon. Only one second separated Bollinger and Baylor, the latter finishing third for the day and now sitting six points down in the championship standings. Imperium Bicycles’ Chris Douglas grabbed the $100 DigitalOffroad.com Holeshot Award, finishing tenth place in the XC2 Pro Lites Class.
Pennsylvania’s Craig Delong captured another win in the 250 A class, while earning the $125 American Kargo Top Amateur Award with eighteenth overall for the day, while factory FMF/KTM’s Kacy Martinez grabbed yet another win in the WXC Class, followed by Mandi Mastin in second and Sarah Baldwin rounded out the WXC podium with third for the day.
In the 8 a.m. Youth race, South Carolina’s Cole Mattison secured his fourth consecutive victory, grabbing yet another Super Mini (14-15) class win along the way. Tennessee’s Sam Thurman captured second place, while Alabama’s Kyler Godwin rounded out the overall podium with third place in the Super Mini (14-15) class.
The 2014 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes June 7 and 8 with the Wiseco John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio.
AMSOIL GNCC Series presented by Maxxis
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mountaineer Run GNCC
Masontown, WV
Results: May 25, 2014 (Round 7 of 13)
XC1
1. Kailub Russell-KTM
2. Charlie Mullins-KTM
3. Josh Strang-Yam
4. Jordan Ashburn-Yam
5. Andrew Delong-Hus
6. Chris Bach-Hon
7. Jason Thomas-KTM
8. Paul Whibley-Yam
9. Ryan Sipes-KTM
10. Tom McCormack-Yam
AMSOIL GNCC Series Overall National Championship Points Standings (After 7 of 13 rounds)
1. Charlie Mullins-180/3 wins
2. Kailub Russell-173/4 wins
3. Josh Strang-132
4. Jordan Ashburn-111
5. Paul Whibley-99
6. Grant Baylor-91
7. Ricky Russell-89
8. Andrew Delong-86
9. Steward Baylor-71
10. Chris Bach-65
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2014 National Champion.
XC2 Pro Lites
1. Ricky Russell-Yam
2. Trevor Bollinger-Hon
3. Grant Baylor-KTM
4. Nick Davis-KTM
5. Jesse Groemm-KTM
6. Jedediah Haines-Yam
7. Kevin Benavides-KTM
8. Travis Teasdale-KTM
9. Kenneth Gilbert-Yam
10. Chris Douglas-KTM
XC2 Pro Lites Class Points Standings
1. Ricky Russell-178
2. Grant Baylor-172
3. Trevor Bollinger-142
4. Layne Michael-100
5. Shane Hufford Jr.-96
6. Callan May-91
7. Jesse Groemm-86
8. Sam Evans-73
9. Chris Douglas-72
10. Jedediah Haines-64
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