GNCC Racing

Kailub Russell Looks to Earn Seventh Win at This Weekend’s John Penton GNCC

Kailub Russell Looks to Earn Seventh Win at This Weekend’s John Penton GNCC

Saturday, June 6, 2015 | 6:00 AM
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Saturday, June 6, 2015 | 6:00 AM

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Kailub Russell Looks to Earn Seventh Win at This Weekend’s John Penton GNCC
Jason Thomas Leads the way in the XC2 Pro Lites Class

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (June 6, 2015) – This weekend the 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship heads to Millfield, Ohio for the 26th annual Wiseco John Penton GNCC. 

Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell looks to extend his points lead in Ohio. Russell holds the points lead coming into round eight of the series, and looks to earn his seventh win of the season, and further extend his championship points lead in search of his third consecutive GNCC title.

Kailub Russell leads the way in the championship points as we head into the John Penton GNCC
Kailub Russell leads the way in the championship points as we head into the John Penton GNCC Photo: Ken Hill

N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor holds onto second in the championship points lead, eight points ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang, coming into round eight. Baylor comes to Ohio after just missing the podium the past two rounds, but has had five consecutive top five finishes. Baylor will look to challenge for a podium finish this weekend. 

Josh Strang, who missed the last round due to an injury, is questionable to return for this weekend’s John Penton GNCC. Strang holds third place in the championship points standings with three points separating him and fourth place.  

JCR Honda’s Chris Bach comes to the John Penton fourth in the championship standings. After a strong start to the season by landing on the podium in Georgia, Bach has shown that consistency is key, claiming multiple top 10 finishes in addition to his first GNCC overall win at the Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC.

Ryan Sipes will have his work cut out for him this weekend. He's racing Pro Motocross Saturday, and then GNCC on Sunday.
Ryan Sipes will have his work cut out for him this weekend. He's racing Pro Motocross Saturday, and then GNCC on Sunday. Photo: Ken Hill

Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/FAR’s Thad DuVall earned another third place finish at the Mountaineer Run GNCC just two weeks ago, rebounding after a hard crash ended his day early in New York. DuVall has earned four top three finishes this season, and currently sits fifth in the championship points standings. Along with those podium finishes DuVall has had a fourth place, but has also sustained some bad luck at two rounds costing him points towards the championship.

AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes has a big weekend ahead of him. On Saturday, June 6 Sipes will contest in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in Tennessee. After Pro Motocross is over Sipes will head north to Ohio for this weekend’s Wiseco John Penton GNCC. Sipes, who is a former pro motocross rider, made the switch to GNCC last year and has steadily increased with his best performance happening two weeks ago at the Mountaineer Run in West Virginia.

N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn is currently eighth overall in the championship point’s standings, but sits only one point behind seventh overall. Ashburn had a stellar 2014 season with consistent finishes and even contending for wins, but some misfortune this season has led to finishes outside of the top 10. 

Ricky Russell has had a string of consistent finishes after returning from a wrist injury
Ricky Russell has had a string of consistent finishes after returning from a wrist injury Photo: Ken Hill

In the XC2 Pro Lites class, DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM rider Jason Thomas holds the points lead by 40 over RideMPS.com/AMSOIL/Honda’s Layne Michael. Thomas has four wins this season, while Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/FAR’s Nick Davis has two wins and Raines Riding University/Atlas Yamaha/OffRoadViking.com has earned one win.

Davis earned his second win just two weeks ago in West Virginia, but is still currently eighth in points. After a strong start to the season, winning the first round and finishing second at the Maxxis General GNCC, Davis experienced multiple mechanical issues before returning to his winning ways at the previous round. 

Husqvarna’s Support Rider Craig DeLong has had an excellent rookie season in the XC2 Pro Lites class and is currently third in the championship points. DeLong has had a string of consistent top five finishes, and finished inside the top ten at all seven rounds. Ricky Russell had a great beginning to the season with a second place finish before injuring his wrist and missing rounds two and three. Russell holds the fourth position in the point’s championship with a win at Big Buck and consistent top five finishes at the past three rounds. Moto-Tech KTM’s Trevor Bollinger has also had a string of consistent finishes landing inside the top 10 at all but one round. Bollinger is six points behind Russell coming into the Wiseco John Penton GNCC.

Nick Davis returned to the center of the podium at the Mountaineer Run GNCC
Nick Davis returned to the center of the podium at the Mountaineer Run GNCC Photo: Ken Hill

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. Local racers are invited to compete at this event, 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.

The John Penton GNCC takes place at Sunday Creek Raceway – a popular motocross and off-road race facility that has hosted the event since 1990.  A mere ten miles from downtown Athens, Sunday Creek Raceway has earned the reputation as a premier off-road racing destination on the tour.

From Athens take Rt. 33 W. 1 mile to 13N (Chauncey Exit) 3 miles into Chauncey. Turn right—staying on Route 13 N. for 10 miles to Jacksonville. Turn right on Sixth St. for 2 miles, and then turn left. Food concessions and motorcycle parts and accessory vendors will be on display in the Sponsor Village.

Tune into RacerTV.com on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET to catch LIVE coverage of the Pro Bike race. For more information on GNCC Live coverage, visit www.racertv.com. A highlight show featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network on Saturday, August 1 at 12:30 p.m. 

For more information on the series, visit the official website www.gnccracing.comor call (304) 284-0084.

Previous Round Results

Mountaineer Run GNCC
Masontown, WV
Round 7 of 13
Sunday, May 31

XC1 Event Results:

  1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
  2. Ryan Sipes (HSQ)
  3. Thad DuVall (HSQ)
  4. Grant Baylor (YAM)
  5. Chris Bach (HON)
  6. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
  7. Steward Baylor (KTM)
  8. Andrew DeLong (HSQ)
  9. Adam Bonneur (KTM)
  10. Takeshi Koikeda (HON)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

  1. Kailub Russell (205)
  2. Grant Baylor (126)
  3. Josh Strang (118)
  4. Chris Bach (115)
  5. Thad DuVall (102)
  6. Ryan Sipes (97)
  7. Jason Thomas (75)
  8. Jordan Ashburn (74)
  9. Ricky Russell (60)
  10. Layne Michael (60)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2015 National Champion.

XC2 Event Results:

  1. Nick Davis (HSQ)
  2. Ricky Russell (YAM)
  3. Tegan Temple (KTM)
  4. Jason Thomas (KTM)
  5. Jesse Groemm (BET)
  6. Layne Michael (HON)
  7. Trevor Bollinger (KTM)
  8. Austin Lee (YAM)
  9. Craig DeLong (HSQ)
  10. Ryan Lojak (YAM)

XC2 Series Standings:

  1. Jason Thomas (167)
  2. Layne Michael (127)
  3. Craig DeLong (121)
  4. Ricky Russell (119)
  5. Trevor Bollinger (113)
  6. Cory Buttrick (94)
  7. Tegan Temple (90)
  8. Nick Davis (87)
  9. Austin Lee (77)
  10. Callan May (65)