Duvall wins in muddy Ohio but Russell bags second for his sixth straight GNCC title at penultimate round in 2018.

St. Clairsville, Ohio Powerline Park hosted its 18th Annual GNCC race at the weekend and saw FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell secure his sixth-consecutive GNCC XC1 National Championship. 

As the green flag fell for round 12 of the 2018 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series Sunday, Kailub Russell got the All Balls Racing Holeshot Award. But a mistake at the FMF PowerPoint cost Russell meant he would come around mid-pack on the first lap gifting Energy Racing/KTM’s Steward Baylor Jr. the lead, followed by KR4/Husqvarna’s Layne Michael in second as they came through timing and scoring after completing lap one.

As the XC1 Open Pro class made their way on the second lap, the Powerline mudhole jump would prove to be one of the toughest obstacles of the day. Despite a dramatic first corner crash, Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Thad Duvall had made his way from third to first during the second lap, with Baylor Jr. and K. Russell seconds behind him. The top three were ready to push each other for the penultimate round win.

Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Josh Strang was having problems of his own during the second lap, ultimately stopping in his pits for a new rear brake system. Tely Energy Racing/KTM’s Grant Baylor did not get the start he wanted, but was busy working his way back up to the front of the pack hoping to battle for a podium position.

Duvall continued to lead the way at the halfway point, followed by K. Russell both of them stopping for a splash of gas, fresh goggles and hydration. Baylor Jr. would opt out of a pit stop and made the pass for second in pro row. 

Steward Baylor looking to put the pressure on Duvall at the front instead get caught out by the Powerline mudhole! He made the jump but tipped over in the muddy mess and needed help from the GNCC “mud fleas” to get going again.

Grant Baylor would hold on to the last podium spot with a third, followed by Steward Baylor and Strang rounding out the top five in XC1 Open Pro. JCR/Honda’s Trevor Bollinger battled throughout the race to hold onto a sixth place finish in XC1 and an eighth overall. Ashburn followed Bollinger in seventh, while AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell secured eighth place from 11th on the second lap.

Michael would also face misfortune after running at the front of the pack early on in the race, ultimately finishing in the ninth place position followed by Factory GasGas/FAR’s Andrew Delong rounding out the top 10 in the XC1 Open Pro class. Solid Performance KTM/ Fly Racing’s Jesse Groemm would complete five laps for an 11th place, while Ohio native KR4/Husqvarna’s Cory Buttrick suffered some bad luck only completing three laps.