Kailub Russell makes last minute pass for GNCC win
By TMX Archives on 16th May 16
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship saw the Fifth Annual Limestone 100 GNCC hit the iconic Lawrence Country Recreational Park in Springville, Indiana.
After an abundant amount of rain fall in the week prior to the event the racetrack shaped up nicely by the time the 1 pm Pro race took to the Indiana woods.
It was FMF/KTM's Factory Racing's Kailub Russell who took the overall win after making a pass on Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing/Bel-Ray's Josh Strang on the last straight.
As the green flag waved AmPro Yamaha's Daniel Milner had a quick jump off the start and grabbed the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award, but by the time they hit the apex of the first turn JCR Honda's Chris Bach had moved into the lead with Husqvarna's Thad Duvall in the mix as well.
"The track shaped up a lot different than it was when I originally walked it this morning,” said Russell. "It ended up making for some great technical racing with multiple lines.”
Once they checked through timing and scoring for the first time, which was located approximately one mile from the start, Bach still had control of the lead. Duvall would still maintain the second place, while Russell and Strang was back in fourth and fifth.
By the second lap, Russell made his way into the lead with Duvall and Strang following. Once the three-hour race hit the halfway mark Duvall found himself in front. However, the three exchanged the lead every few minutes creating an exciting race.
Once the white flag came out it was an all-out battle for the win between Duvall, Strang and Russell. Duvall continued to have the lead on the last lap, but unfortunately made a small mistake right after seeing the flag allowing Strang and Russell to get back around him.
"I felt like I could have won all day, but I just came up short the last lap,” said Duvall. "I made a mistake and rode super tight. I tried everything I could do the last lap and had a good line going up the hill climb gaining seconds, but it was a sprint to the finish and I couldn't make up the time.”
After racing wheel-to-wheel for majority of the last lap, Russell knew he had to make the pass on Strang for the lead at the next possible section. With the Pro Row situated just one turn before the finish line, Russell charged for the lead passing Strang down the straight stretch. Strang hung with him, but was not able to get back around in the last turn finishing in second just one thousandth of a second behind Russell.
"I don't feel like I was the fastest guy out there today,” said Russell. "I just had a bunch of little tip-overs. It was almost easier to be behind than lead today, because of all the bad lines and lappers. We all had a good battle and it seemed like every mile we just kept changing out the lead. After we came back through the starting area I knew there wasn't many places to pass from there. Josh got protective and was riding the inside lines and I was able to make a hairball pass on him and stick it out for the overall.”
The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes in two weeks, May 28/29, with The Wiseco John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio.
