The 2017 Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) kicked off this weekend in Union, South Carolina for the Big Buck GNCC, which served as the season opener for the first time in the event’s 43-year running. FMF KTM Factory Racing Team’s Kailub Russell earned a podium position, finishing 2nd overall behind KTM-Supported rider Steward Baylor Jr. at Round 1.

The Big Buck GNCC track was hard-packed and rough, with a dry and dusty terrain. Off the start, the four-time and reigning GNCC National Champion Kailub Russell put himself into the 2nd place position on the opening lap where he eventually put his KTM 250 XC-F into the lead early on the second lap. SRT/KTM’s Baylor vaulted himself into 2nd behind Russell soon after as the two KTM riders set the early pace in the three-hour race.

Baylor chased down Russell for the lead, where the two went head-to-head through the first hour of racing. Russell got tangled with a lapped rider up the hill climb on lap three, where Baylor was able to inherit the lead position. Meanwhile, Russell dropped back to 4th place after stopping to fuel on the same lap.

Russell worked his way back up to the 2nd place position, where he came within 12 seconds of Baylor’s lead in the second half of the race. From there, Russell worked hard to regain his leading positon but it wasn’t enough to make the pass on Baylor in the end.

With one round down, Baylor holds a five-point lead over Russell in the championship standings as the series heads right to Round 2 this Sunday, March 12 in Palatka, Florida.

Kailub Russell: “We had a pretty decent day – nothing special but nothing terrible – it was just kind of so-so. Stu was riding really well, he had the pressure on me there when I got into the lead and him and I were out front. I got tangled up with a lapper on the hill climb and dropped back to 4th and he got about 29-30 seconds on me and I never could close it. I was trying and trying and trying – I mean, he was riding well I have to give it up to him for that. The track was brutal between the lappers and how many riders there were general today, it was definitely a tough round one.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Russell Bobbitt put his KTM 350 XC-F into a top-ten position off the start as he rounded the opening lap in 7th place. Bobbitt pushed his way into 6th by lap two, where he caught up to the top-five pack and rode close behind. After six laps of racing, Bobbitt was able to maintain a solid position to ultimately capture 6th in the XC1 Open Pro class and 7th overall for the day.

Team Manager Antti Kallonen: “It was a solid start to the season – both FMF KTM factory racers rode well today. Obviously we were coming into the opening round with high hopes to start the season where we left off last season but we’re looking forward to next weekend in Florida. It’s a short week, we’re headed straight to Florida right away and hoping to redeem ourselves with a position on top of the box.”

In the 10 a.m. morning race, KTM-Supported riders Becca Sheets and Mackenzie Tricker finished atop the WXC podium with impressive rides at the opening round. Tricker led the opening laps, while Sheets inserted herself into the 2nd place position around the halfway point. After two hours of racing, it was Sheets who maintained the 2nd place position, with Tricker rounding out the highly-competitive WXC podium with a 3rd place finish. Both riders earned a place on the overall podium as well, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively out of over 530 riders.

Overall Results (XC1 Open Pro and XC2 250 Pro Combined)

1. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
2. Kailub Russell (KTM)
3. Ryan Sipes
4. Josh Toth
5. Trevor Bollinger
6. Ricky Russell
7. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
8. Layne Michael
9. Chris Bach (KTM)
10. 1 Grant Baylor

Overall Point Standings

1. Steward Baylor Jr. (30)
2. Kailub Russell (25)
3. Ryan Sipes (21)
4. 4. Josh Toth (18)
5. Trevor Bollinger (16)
6. Ricky Russell (15)
7. Russell Bobbitt (14)
8. Layne Michael (13)
9. Chris Bach (12)
10. 10. Grant Baylor (11)