Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Thad Duvall took home his first win of the 2017 Grand National Cross Country Championship at the inaugural X-Factor GNCC.
However, it would not be an easy task for Duvall as it was N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell who got the $250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award. R Russell led the first two laps, but would eventually fall back two positions ultimately earning his season best finish of third overall.
Duvall’s teammate, Josh Strang, was also off to a good start where he would work his way into his first 2nd place finish of the season by the end of the four-lap race. FMF/Maxxis/RPM KTM Racing Team’s Chris Bach finished just off the podium with his second 4th overall finish in 2017.
After a favourable start behind R Russell, Beta USA’s Jordan Ashburn would find himself tangled in a power washer cord after a brief pit stop. Ashburn would fall back to 8th as he checked into timing and scoring on the first lap but put on a hard charge eventually ended the day with a remarkable fifth overall.
FMF/KTM Factory Racing and defending GNCC National Champion, Kailub Russell would find himself heading into the woods last off the start after falling in the second turn with another rider. K Russell and teammate, Russell Bobbitt, would finish the day out in the 8th and 9th place positions of the XC1 Pro class. K Russell would finish 14th overall, while Bobbitt salvaged a 20th overall finish. SRT/KTM rider, and round 1 winner, Steward Baylor would complete his first lap in the fourth place position. Unfortunately, this would be the only glimpse anyone caught of S Baylor, as his race ended after that first lap due to an illness.
XC1 Open Pro Event Results:
1. Thad Duvall (HSQ)
2. Josh Strang (HSQ)
3. Ricky Russell (YAM)
4. Chris Bach (KTM)
5. Jordan Ashburn (BET)
6. Trevor Bollinger (HON)
7. Grant Baylor (HSQ)
8. Kailub Russell (KTM)
9. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
10. Scott Grills (HSQ)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
1. Kailub Russell (152)
2. Thad Duvall (126)
3. Steward Baylor (118)
4. Ricky Russell (96)
5. Josh Toth (85)
6. Jordan Ashburn (72)
7. Josh Strang (71)
8. Trevor Bollinger (67)
9. Grant Baylor (62)
10. Mike Witkowski (58)
In the WXC class, KTM’s Becca Sheets claimed her first victory of the Grand National Cross Country Championship in tough conditions. Fellow KTM riders, Mackenzie Tricker and Rachel Gutish rounded out the top three.
Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones chose to sit out the race due to illness but plans to return at the next round.
WXC Bike Event Results:
1. Becca Sheets (KTM)
2. Mackenzie Tricker (KTM)
3. Rachel Gutish (KTM)
4. Natasha Lachapelle (KTM)
WXC Bike Series Standings:
1. Becca Sheets (113)
2. Mackenzie Tricker (109)
3. Tayla Jones (100)
4. Rachel Gutish (100)
5. Shelby Rolen (57)
6. Brooke Cosner (50)
7. Kendall LaFollette (48)
8. Rachael Archer (30)
9. Allie Spurgeon (26)
10. Felicia Robichaud (25)
Tricker & Sheets