Wednesday 30 October: Heading into the final round of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series, the Ironman, only two points separated Factory FMF/KTM teammates Kailub Russell and Charlie Mullins in the National Championship standings.
Jen Kenyon writes for the GNCC.
The 19th running of the AMSOIL Ironman GNCC set the stage
for an epic finale as it was a winner-take-all affair at the AMSOIL
Ironman GNCC finale and it was Russell who prevailed, clinching his
first career XC1 Overall National Championship after three-hours of
close racing competition.
Jordan Ashburn claims his first $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award of the season. Photo: Ken Hill
It wasn’t without a fight from his teammate Mullins, who lead in the
early portion of the race after battling with AmPro Yamaha teammates
Paul Whibley and Jordan Ashburn on the opening lap. It was Ashburn who
captured the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award, as he led
Whibley, Mullins, Russell and Rocky Mountain ATV/MC’s Josh Strang into
the woods.
Whibley (1), Mullins (112) and Ashburn (9) got out to an early lead at the Ironman Photo: Ken Hill
On the opening lap, GNCC officials were forced to hold Russell for 15
seconds due to an infraction on the starting line after he
inadvertently started his bike prior to the green flag, indicating the
start of the race.
"I usually rest my thumb on my starter before the ten seconds call
but this time I put a little too much pressure on it. I made a mistake
and they penalized me for it,” Russell stated.
Charlie Mullins put forth a hard fought battle to finish second overall for the season Photo: Ken Hill
That didn’t stop a hungry Russell from making his way to the front of
the field by the end of Lap 1, where Mullins tucked in behind his
teammate for the second place spot. The duo flip-flopped the lead a few
times from there and it was Whibley who fell into the third place
position early on.
However, it didn’t take long for DuVall and Strang to
join Whibley for the battle. Midway through the race, DuVall and Strang
made the pass on Whibley for the third place battle but just as quickly
as they excelled, both riders fell victim to the rough Ironman terrain.
Strang and DuVall both experienced crashes that kept them from
finishing the season finale in Indiana.
The misfortune of DuVall and Strang led to a favorable opportunity
for the reigning XC1 Champion Paul Whibley, as he was able to reclaim
the third place position. FMF/RPM/KTM’s Rory Mead turned it up in the
second half of the race, jumping from eighth place all the way into the
fourth place position. Ashburn dropped into the fifth place spot, where
he then set his sights on Mead ahead.
GNCC official Tim Cotter presents Kailub Russell with the National #1 plate. Photo: Ken Hill
Despite a valiant effort by Mullins, Russell was able to maintain his
lead and finish 36 seconds ahead of his teammate to claim his first
career XC1 Overall National Championship at the AMSOIL Ironman GNCC
finale.
"It’s been great season but it hasn’t been without its struggles,
that’s for sure,” Russell said. I was forced to dig myself out of a hole
in the points earlier in the season and I gave myself another shot at
the championship today and it’s a great honor to be up here and battle
with some of the best guys in the world.”
Congratulations to the Factory KTM team for a successful 2013 GNCC season Photo: Ken Hill
Only seven points away from a second career championship, the 2011
Overall National Champion Mullins finished second overall for the day at
the Ironman. Mullins ends the season with a total of five overall wins
in 2013.
"It was a fun year. What can I say, Kailub rode well today and I gave
it everything I had and came up a little short,” Mullins said.
"Somebody had to lose and I guess it was me this year but I can’t be
bummed about too much since I stayed healthy. It’s good fuel for the
fire next year and hopefully come back strong and go after the #1 plate
in 2014.”
Whibley rode on to capture his second consecutive podium finish after
coming back from a mid-season injury. The two-time GNCC Champion and
New Zealand native will round out the 2013 season with the fifth place
overall position in the championship standings.
"This is the premier off-road racing series in the world, everyone
dreams about coming to GNCC and for me to come over here and win
championships and get podium finishes is awesome,” Whibley said. "I’m
just happy to be over here racing these guys and to come back and have
two podiums at the end of the season is a good way to end it and I’m
looking forward to the 2014 season.”
XC1 podium: (left) Charlie Mullins, Kailub Russell, (right) Paul Whibley Photo: Ken Hill
Mead was able to hold off Ashburn to capture the fourth place
position, while Ashburn finished just ahead of his teammate Ricky
Russell in the sixth place spot. Litz Racing/Honda’s Takeshi Koikeda
finished seventh, followed by Adam Bonneur in eighth and Justin Bonita
and Chris Bach rounded out the top ten in the XC1 Class.
