by: Jared Bolton
Monday, November 10, 2025 | 1:50 PM
Photos from the Japanese National Cross Country (JNCC) AAGP Sand Valley Hakkenden in Kimitsu, Chiba, Japan and sightseeing.
Kailub Russell raced while GNCC Racing staff, Race Operations Manager Jared Bolton escorted Russell and the AmPro Yamaha team to Japan. Russell raced in the AA1 class in their PM race, while AmPro Team Manager Randy Hawkins raced in the Fun A class in their AM race. Randy’s son, Mitch Hawkins raced in the B class in the PM race, while Kailub’s son, Krue Russell raced on a YZ85 in their morning race.
Photos Courtesy of JNCC and Jared Bolton
![2 legends in 1 photo!]()
2 legends in 1 photo! ![12x All Japan Motocross Champ, Akira Narita, took the overall win!]()
12x All Japan Motocross Champ, Akira Narita, took the overall win! Courtesy JNCC ![JNCC has their own version of Ricky Towery, and he's been flagging their races for a long time!]()
JNCC has their own version of Ricky Towery, and he's been flagging their races for a long time! Courtesy JNCC ![Hey, you!]()
Hey, you! Courtesy JNCC ![8x JNCC overall champ, Manabu Watanabe]()
8x JNCC overall champ, Manabu Watanabe Courtesy JNCC ![Shun Ozawa is an up and coming Comp A class racer.]()
Shun Ozawa is an up and coming Comp A class racer. Courtesy JNCC ![KR557]()
KR557 Courtesy JNCC ![Akria Narita in action!]()
Akria Narita in action! Courtesy JNCC ![Mitch Hawkins riding to a 2nd place in the Fun B class.]()
Mitch Hawkins riding to a 2nd place in the Fun B class. Courtesy JNCC ![AmPro Yamaha's Randy Hawkins and JNCC President, Masami Hoshino]()
AmPro Yamaha's Randy Hawkins and JNCC President, Masami Hoshino Courtesy JNCC ![KR557 would suffer a mechanical issue ending his day early, but still landed a top ten in the AA1 class.]()
KR557 would suffer a mechanical issue ending his day early, but still landed a top ten in the AA1 class. Courtesy JNCC ![The Japanese racers and fans love Randy Hawkins!]()
The Japanese racers and fans love Randy Hawkins! Courtesy JNCC ![KR's Yamaha was supplied by the R&D team in charge of Yamaha's FX line.]()
KR's Yamaha was supplied by the R&D team in charge of Yamaha's FX line. Courtesy JNCC ![Second place finisher Masahiro Kobayashi battles with Ryota Suzuki]()
Second place finisher Masahiro Kobayashi battles with Ryota Suzuki Courtesy JNCC ![The Champ!]()
The Champ! Courtesy JNCC ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins Courtesy JNCC ![Daiki Baba visited us at Big Buck in 2023!]()
Daiki Baba visited us at Big Buck in 2023! Courtesy JNCC ![Kailub felt right at home in the sand.]()
Kailub felt right at home in the sand. Courtesy JNCC ![Another Japanese off-road star and former champ, Kenji Suzuki.]()
Another Japanese off-road star and former champ, Kenji Suzuki. Courtesy JNCC ![Some things are the same no matter where you go in the world.]()
Some things are the same no matter where you go in the world. Courtesy JNCC ![Akira Narita rolls to the line.]()
Akira Narita rolls to the line. Courtesy JNCC ![KR makes one of the long sand hills look easy.]()
KR makes one of the long sand hills look easy. Courtesy JNCC ![AA1 and AA2 class top finishers]()
AA1 and AA2 class top finishers Courtesy JNCC ![Kailub received a warm welcome from the JNCC fans!]()
Kailub received a warm welcome from the JNCC fans! Courtesy JNCC ![Kobayashi would end the day in second place overall.]()
Kobayashi would end the day in second place overall. Courtesy JNCC ![Baba and Russell]()
Baba and Russell Courtesy JNCC ![KR making quick work of the big sand hill.]()
KR making quick work of the big sand hill. Courtesy JNCC ![Oops!]()
Oops! Courtesy JNCC ![Keita Watanabe is another visitor to GNCC, participating in the 2024 Mountaineer GNCC.]()
Keita Watanabe is another visitor to GNCC, participating in the 2024 Mountaineer GNCC. Courtesy JNCC ![Krue Russell made his first race aboard an 85!]()
Krue Russell made his first race aboard an 85! Courtesy JNCC ![The Comp-B class podium with Mitch Hawkins second, and American who now calls Japan home, Travis Wagner, in seventh.]()
The Comp-B class podium with Mitch Hawkins second, and American who now calls Japan home, Travis Wagner, in seventh. Courtesy JNCC ![Kosuke Kato aboard the Fantic.]()
Kosuke Kato aboard the Fantic. Courtesy JNCC ![The Morning]()
The Morning "Fun GP" prepares for the start. Courtesy JNCC ![Masami Hoshino waves the flag for the]()
Masami Hoshino waves the flag for the "Fun C" class start! Courtesy JNCC ![Thanks to the JNCC Course Marshals!]()
Thanks to the JNCC Course Marshals! Courtesy JNCC ![Our GNCC attendees along with some of the JNCC staff!]()
Our GNCC attendees along with some of the JNCC staff! Courtesy JNCC ![Manabu Watanabe is hungry for another title in 2026.]()
Manabu Watanabe is hungry for another title in 2026. Courtesy JNCC ![Daiki Baba]()
Daiki Baba Courtesy JNCC ![Shuya Watari]()
Shuya Watari Courtesy JNCC ![KR addresses the racers prior to the start of the morning Fun GP]()
KR addresses the racers prior to the start of the morning Fun GP Courtesy JNCC ![Keita Watanabe is a young up and coming JNCC star...]()
Keita Watanabe is a young up and coming JNCC star... Courtesy JNCC ![...at just 17 years old, he has a long career ahead!]()
...at just 17 years old, he has a long career ahead! Courtesy JNCC ![Bolton NOT telling everyone to]()
Bolton NOT telling everyone to "pay attention to those arrows" for once... Courtesy JNCC ![Randy Hawkins rode to a fifth place finish in the morning Fun GP]()
Randy Hawkins rode to a fifth place finish in the morning Fun GP Courtesy JNCC ![Manabu Watanabe]()
Manabu Watanabe Courtesy JNCC ![Krue Russell prepares himself for the start.]()
Krue Russell prepares himself for the start. Courtesy JNCC ![Randy Hawkins gives a thanks and some pointers prior to the PM race start.]()
Randy Hawkins gives a thanks and some pointers prior to the PM race start. Courtesy JNCC ![The AA1 and AA2 classes blast towards turn one.]()
The AA1 and AA2 classes blast towards turn one. Courtesy JNCC ![Randy Hawkins]()
Randy Hawkins Courtesy JNCC ![KTM Japan General Manager, Kevin Strassmeir pulls double duty at each JNCC event, racing both the AM and PM races!]()
KTM Japan General Manager, Kevin Strassmeir pulls double duty at each JNCC event, racing both the AM and PM races! ![Hey Randy!]()
Hey Randy! ![Randy Hawkins]()
Randy Hawkins ![Yoshihiro Iwai competed in the 2025 Snowshoe GNCC and took second place in the Fun A class.]()
Yoshihiro Iwai competed in the 2025 Snowshoe GNCC and took second place in the Fun A class. ![Takahito Sakurai]()
Takahito Sakurai ![This guy was having a blast!]()
This guy was having a blast! ![The Morning Fun GP was loaded with racers!]()
The Morning Fun GP was loaded with racers! ![The Fun A class heads into the first turn.]()
The Fun A class heads into the first turn. ![Krue was ripping that 85 like he's been on one forever!]()
Krue was ripping that 85 like he's been on one forever! ![The Fun C class launches off the start!]()
The Fun C class launches off the start! ![Krue Russell in action]()
Krue Russell in action ![Krue Russell]()
Krue Russell ![Fun A class winner, Takeshi Tabuchi]()
Fun A class winner, Takeshi Tabuchi ![Yes, that is a Triumph Tiger adventure bike!]()
Yes, that is a Triumph Tiger adventure bike! ![Randy Hawkins]()
Randy Hawkins ![Toyoki Nitta battled with Bolton at last year's JNCC finale.]()
Toyoki Nitta battled with Bolton at last year's JNCC finale. ![Husband and wife duo of Yoshihiro Iwai...]()
Husband and wife duo of Yoshihiro Iwai... ![... and Noriko Iwai, who won the Fun-WB class!]()
... and Noriko Iwai, who won the Fun-WB class! ![Krue Russell]()
Krue Russell ![Masami ensures everyone is ready to go!]()
Masami ensures everyone is ready to go! ![Kevin Strassmeir]()
Kevin Strassmeir ![Randy Hawkins is a big star in Japan!]()
Randy Hawkins is a big star in Japan! ![JNCC crew makes sure everything is ready before going racing!]()
JNCC crew makes sure everything is ready before going racing! ![The YZ450FX Kailub rode was very interesting. It had some work done that made it closer to a 400cc machine.]()
The YZ450FX Kailub rode was very interesting. It had some work done that made it closer to a 400cc machine. ![Randy still rips!]()
Randy still rips! ![Travis Wagner pulls double duty with a third place in the morning Fun-B class and seventh place in the afternoon Comp-B class.]()
Travis Wagner pulls double duty with a third place in the morning Fun-B class and seventh place in the afternoon Comp-B class. ![The views from this facility were incredible!]()
The views from this facility were incredible! ![Hello Mr. Iwai!]()
Hello Mr. Iwai! ![If you look closely, that's Mt Fuji off in the far distance, hidden by some clouds...]()
If you look closely, that's Mt Fuji off in the far distance, hidden by some clouds... ![GNCC announcer, Shigehiro Nakai]()
GNCC announcer, Shigehiro Nakai ![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![The JNCC team makes us all feel welcomed!]()
The JNCC team makes us all feel welcomed! ![小島 太久摩]()
小島 太久摩 ![Toyoki Nitta]()
Toyoki Nitta ![Travis Wagner]()
Travis Wagner ![KR557]()
KR557 ![This hill was harder than it looked!]()
This hill was harder than it looked! ![Koji Kosuge]()
Koji Kosuge ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Live action!]()
Live action! ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins ![小島 太久摩]()
小島 太久摩 ![Chaos unfolds!]()
Chaos unfolds! ![Keinori Nakajima]()
Keinori Nakajima ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Akria Narita]()
Akria Narita ![Manabu Watanabe]()
Manabu Watanabe ![]()
![Masahiro Kobayashi]()
Masahiro Kobayashi ![Keita Watanabe and Koji Kosuge battle it out!]()
Keita Watanabe and Koji Kosuge battle it out! ![Ryota Suzuki.. ironically on a Yamaha!]()
Ryota Suzuki.. ironically on a Yamaha! ![Kosuke Kato]()
Kosuke Kato ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Daiki Baba]()
Daiki Baba ![A huge bottleneck formed on lap 4 of the PM race, forcing a restart!]()
A huge bottleneck formed on lap 4 of the PM race, forcing a restart! ![This hill got wild!]()
This hill got wild! ![The AA1 and AA2 restart!]()
The AA1 and AA2 restart! ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins ![Keita Sano]()
Keita Sano ![Ryota Suzuki]()
Ryota Suzuki ![Yasutero Kosuge]()
Yasutero Kosuge ![Freight train of racers]()
Freight train of racers ![Travis Wagner, this time in the PM race!]()
Travis Wagner, this time in the PM race! ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Masahiro Kobayashi]()
Masahiro Kobayashi ![Kailub Russell... with a kickstand!]()
Kailub Russell... with a kickstand! ![小島 太久摩]()
小島 太久摩 ![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![Ryota Suzuki]()
Ryota Suzuki ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins ![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![Masahiro Kobayashi]()
Masahiro Kobayashi ![This guy is manly!]()
This guy is manly! ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins ![Hiroyuki Watanabe]()
Hiroyuki Watanabe ![Kailub in action.]()
Kailub in action. ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Yutaro Saito]()
Yutaro Saito ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Another freight train of racers!]()
Another freight train of racers! ![Is that Charlie Brown?!]()
Is that Charlie Brown?! ![Ryota Suzuki]()
Ryota Suzuki ![Kazuhiro Yoshizaki is a big GNCC fan!]()
Kazuhiro Yoshizaki is a big GNCC fan! ![And we're a big fan of him!]()
And we're a big fan of him! ![Kailub had actually lapped the entire field prior to his mechanical issue!]()
Kailub had actually lapped the entire field prior to his mechanical issue! ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins ![Keita Watanabe]()
Keita Watanabe ![Kailub Russell]()
Kailub Russell ![Ryota Suzuki]()
Ryota Suzuki ![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![Shuya Watari]()
Shuya Watari ![Manabe Watanabe]()
Manabe Watanabe ![Randy and Nitta]()
Randy and Nitta ![Nitta rolls to the line!]()
Nitta rolls to the line! ![Green doesn't mean go, it means get them warmed up!]()
Green doesn't mean go, it means get them warmed up! ![The Sand Valley Hakkenden course was in a sand mine!]()
The Sand Valley Hakkenden course was in a sand mine! ![Our GNCC crew along with our JNCC guide, Yoshi Kawana and JNCC President, Masami Hoshino at the Tokyo Aqualine bridge-tunnel!]()
Our GNCC crew along with our JNCC guide, Yoshi Kawana and JNCC President, Masami Hoshino at the Tokyo Aqualine bridge-tunnel! ![Tokyo Aqualine bridge tunnel]()
Tokyo Aqualine bridge tunnel ![The Senso-Ji temple in Tokyo dates its origins to year 645!]()
The Senso-Ji temple in Tokyo dates its origins to year 645! ![More from the Senso-Ji temple]()
More from the Senso-Ji temple ![Monday was Culture Day in Japan, and a huge crowd turned out to see the traditional Japanese sights.]()
Monday was Culture Day in Japan, and a huge crowd turned out to see the traditional Japanese sights. ![The Tokyo Skytree is the world's tallest tower with this observation deck at nearly 1,150 feet!]()
The Tokyo Skytree is the world's tallest tower with this observation deck at nearly 1,150 feet! ![Remember, some of those buildings below are 20+ stories...]()
Remember, some of those buildings below are 20+ stories... ![The GNCC crew on the streets of Tokyo!]()
The GNCC crew on the streets of Tokyo! ![KR with a pre-race interview]()
KR with a pre-race interview ![Akira Narita would take the overall win!]()
Akira Narita would take the overall win! ![The]()
The "high five line" is a favorite! ![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![This guy finished the afternoon race on that DT!]()
This guy finished the afternoon race on that DT! ![Akria Narita takes the win!]()
Akria Narita takes the win! ![KR and our friend Kazushiro accidentally came together!]()
KR and our friend Kazushiro accidentally came together! ![Everyone gathers around to waft this smoke to their forehead as it is said to make you smarter!]()
Everyone gathers around to waft this smoke to their forehead as it is said to make you smarter! ![GNCC in Tokyo!]()
GNCC in Tokyo! ![KR getting ready to roll]()
KR getting ready to roll ![A little pre-race bike prep!]()
A little pre-race bike prep! ![This was a really cool setup!]()
This was a really cool setup! ![]()
![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![Akira Narita]()
Akira Narita ![Sakisuke Kawaguchi]()
Sakisuke Kawaguchi ![Manabu Watanabe]()
Manabu Watanabe ![Akria Narita and Masahiro Kobayashi took the top 2 spots.]()
Akria Narita and Masahiro Kobayashi took the top 2 spots. ![Mitch Hawkins]()
Mitch Hawkins ![Manabu Watanabe]()
Manabu Watanabe ![Kazushiro Yoshizaki]()
Kazushiro Yoshizaki
