Kailub Russell Faces Stacked Field of GNCC Pros This Sunday Aboard a KTM 150XC

Grant Baylor Looks to Secure His Second Straight XC2 Pro Lites Championship

Kailub Russell will be switching from his normal KTM 350 4-stroke to race a KTM 150XC 2-stroke at the last two rounds of the 2014 season. Photo: Ken Hill

The 13-race AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, reaches the penultimate round of racing this Sunday, Oct. 5 with the ITP Powerline Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Although the 2014 National Championship has already been decided, there's still lots of excitement and anticipation surrounding two-time GNCC National Champion Kailub Russell as he prepares to line up against a stacked field of XC1 Pro competition-who are equipped with 450cc four-strokes and 250cc two-strokes-aboard a Factory FMF/KTM 150cc two-stroke.

Russell wrapped up his second straight GNCC National Championship last round, where he heads into his home state this Sunday with a five-race winning streak behind him. As Russell attempts to secure his 22nd career victory this Sunday, which would give him fifth place on the All-Time Bike Wins list, the Ohio native will have his work cut out with a bike that's much different than what he's used to racing on the GNCC circuit.

"I'm leaving the KTM 350 [four-stroke] in the garage and bringing out the KTM 150 two-stroke for the last two rounds," Russell said. "I've only practiced on it a few times this week but I'm looking forward to having some fun on it."

However, Russell's decision to race the 150XC at the final two rounds is more than just an exciting venture. The Factory FMF/KTM racer is currently hosting a public raffle where one lucky winner will receive the exact bike that he's competing on this month. All proceeds from the raffle will be split to help benefit injured GNCC Racer Rory Mead with his ongoing spinal injury rehabilitation, while also helping to fund Russell's trip with Team USA to the International Six Days Enduro in Argentina later this year.

Following yet another podium finish last round, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn vaulted himself into second place in the championship standings, where he sits one point ahead of Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Josh Strang with two rounds remaining. Ashburn has put forth one of his best seasons to date, highlighted with a spectacular performance at the last round where the Tennessee native led four of the six laps in a close battle with Kailub Russell. Ashburn looks to take his success one step further this Sunday with an overall victory at Powerline Park.

Strang dropped one position to third in the championship standings following a rough day at round 11, where he was forced to DNF the race due to fuel spillage on his lap during a pit stop. The 2010 GNCC National Champion is still looking to capture his first victory of the season, in addition to reclaiming the second place position with two rounds remaining.

Grant Baylor is looking to wrap up his second straight XC2 Pro Lites championship at Powerline Park this weekend. Photo: Ken Hill

Factory FMF/KTM's Charlie Mullins is prepared to make his return to GNCC this weekend after missing the last four rounds with a double wrist injury. The 2011 GNCC National Champion was on track to contest this year's title before his injury, scoring three race wins through the first seven rounds. With only two rounds remaining, Mullins has nothing to prove as he sits six points behind Strang for fourth place in the championship standings, where he looks to "have fun and get back into the swing of racing."

With a commanding lead over second place, KTM Support rider Grant Baylor looks to wrap up his second straight XC2 Pro Lites championship this weekend at Powerline Park. Baylor enters round 12 with a four-race winning streak behind him and a potential win this weekend could be big for the South Carolina native as he prepares to line up for his final XC2 Pro Lites career race before moving into XC1 for the season finale in Indiana.

With Raines Riding University/Atlas Cycles' Ricky Russell out with injury for the rest of the season, XC2 Pro Lites rookie Trevor Bollinger has indefinitely moved into the second place position in the class standings. Bollinger secured his first career XC2 victory earlier this season and the North Carolina native has been consistently up front ever since. With his biggest competitor preparing to move to the front row, Bollinger has his sights set on conquering the center of the podium.

Since making the move to XC2 around mid-season, KR4 Arrive-N-Ride's Nick Davis has made a mark with a consistent string of podium finishes. Davis sits back in ninth in the class standings but his results show that he will be a solid contender in the 2015 championship bid.

Bollinger has his sights set on the center of the podium with two rounds remaining in the 2014 GNCC Series. Photo: Ken Hill

With the 2014 WXC Championship in hand, Factory FMF/KTM's Kacy Martinez continues to battle for race wins in a highly competitive Women's class. Last round, KR4 Arrive-N-Ride's Sarah Baldwin captured her first WXC victory of the season, vaulting herself into third place in the championship standings behind N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Becca Sheets.

Youth bike racing will take place Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by amateurs and Women at 10 a.m., while the top amateurs and pros race at 1 p.m.

Adult (12+) gate admission is $20 for the full weekend and $10 for kids (6-11). Kids five and under are free. 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.

Tune into RacerTV.com on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST to catch LIVE coverage of the Pro Bike race at round 12. For more information on GNCC Live coverage, visit www.racertv.com.

Stay up-to-date with exclusive content from the AMSOIL GNCC Series by following the series Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Previous Round Results 
Car-Mate Mountain Ridge GNCC Somerset, Pennsylvania Round 11 of 13 Saturday, September 21

XC1 Event Results: 1 Kailub Russell (KTM) 2 Jordan Ashburn (YAM) 3 Andrew Delong (HSQ) 4 Ryan Sipes (KTM) 5 Paul Whibley (YAM) 6 Jason Thomas (KTM) 7 Chris Douglas (KTM) 8 Takeshi Koikeda (HON) 9 Thad DuVall (HON) 10 Chris Bach (HON)
*Overall National Championship Standings: 1 Kailub Russell (293) 2 Jordan Ashburn (187) 3 Josh Strang (186) 4 Charlie Mullins (180) 5 Grant Baylor (177) 6 Paul Whibley (152) 7 Andrew Delong (152) 8 Ricky Russell (117) 9 Chris Bach (108) 10 Trevor Bollinger (106) *Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2014 National Champion.
XC2 Event Results: 1 Grant Baylor (KTM) 2 Trevor Bollinger (HON) 3 Nick Davis (KTM) 4 Michael McGinnis (KTM) 5 Sam Evans (KTM) 6 Mark Heresco (KTM) 7 Zach Love (KTM) 8 Callan May (YAM) 9 Derrik Allen (YAM) 10 Mat Herrington (KTM)
XC2 Series Standings: 1 Grant Baylor (292) 2 Trevor Bollinger (235) 3 Ricky Russell (233) 4 Callan May (128) 5 Layne Michael (127) 6 Sam Evans (120) 7 Jesse Groemm (119) 8 Shane Hufford Jr (114) 9 Nick Davis (111) 10 Chris Douglas (99)