Racing

2018 Powerline GNCC, Part 2

Thad Duvall wins and Kailub Russell makes history

October 19, 2018

Grant Baylor lost considerable time at the start of the race when he took an alternate line in an attempt to bypassmiss Thad Duvall’s crash after the start.Darrin Chapman

Thad Duvall might have won the battle with a victorious performance at the recent Powerline GNCC. However, it was Kailub Russell who won the war by claiming his sixth consecutive XC1 GNCC National Championship title with a runner-up finish behind Duvall.

Duvall’s win was his fourth of the season and second consecutive. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider had to overcome a nasty crash just after the start, when he clipped Russell’s rear wheel as the two riders were diving into the second turn. Duvall rejoined the action several seconds down, but was able to catch up with Russell and battle for the lead late in the race. On the final lap, Russell took a bad line through a mud hole and that gave Duvall the chance he was looking for. Once in the lead, Duvall led Russell to the checkered flag, taking the win by just under a minute.

Russell finished in second place and revealed after the race that he was nursing an injured shoulder that would require surgery. Trail Jesters Racing KTM’s Ben Kelley came from the second row to finish third overall and first in the XC2 class, while Tely Energy Racing’s Grant Baylor finished fourth ahead of FMF KTM’s Josh Toth.

For the second race in a row, Ben Kelley came from the second row to finish third overall. The Trail Jesters Racing KTM rider also won the XC2 class and extended his lead in the XC2 series standings.Darrin Chapman

Kailub Russell came into Powerline nursing an injured shoulder that would require surgery after the race. Despite the injury, Russell was able to manage a runner-up finish, which was more than enough to secure his sixth-straight XC1 GNCC National title.Darrin Chapman

Thad Duvall crashed hard following the start when he clipped Russell’s rear wheel. However, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider passed Russell on the final lap to win the race.Darrin Chapman

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang rounded made it into the top five in the XC1 Open Pro division and was seventh overall.Darrin Chapman

Duvall goes down at the start of the XC1 class.Darrin Chapman

FMF KTM’s Josh Toth finished fifth overall.Darrin Chapman

Kelley won the XC2 Holeshot Award for being the first rider to the first turn in the XC2 class.Darrin Chapman

Jesse Ansley claimed his sixth win of the season in the 2018 FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class and wrapped up the National Championship for the division.Darrin Chapman

Russell’s factory KTM 450 XC-F sits ready for action on Saturday.Darrin Chapman