Racing

A Look Back At The Steele Creek GNCC

A photo essay of Thad Duvall’s win at the Steele Creek GNCC

April 12, 2018

It took four rounds to finally get it done, but Thad Duvall grabbed his first GNCC win of 2018 at this past weekend's AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country race in Morganton, North Carolina. Defending series champ Kailub Russell jumped out to a comfortable early lead, but Duvall was able to reel in the FMF KTM rider when the lead duo hit lapped traffic. When Russell was held up by a lapper with just a mile to go in the race, Duvall saw the opening he needed and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider took full advantage of the situation to bring home the win.

Allen Gravitt prepares Steward Baylor’s Tely Racing KTM for the race. Baylor told Dirt Rider that he struggled with suspension settings in North Carolina. The South Carolina native finished fifth overall.Darrin Chapman

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna factory mechanic Tanner Tremaine looks on as Thad Duvall waits in the staging area before the race.Darrin Chapman

Kailub Russell moved quickly into the lead after the start of the afternoon race and pulled away to a 20-second lead before the end of the first lap.Darrin Chapman

Trail Jesters KTM’s Ben Kelley continues to dominate the XC2 250 Pro class by adding his fourth class win in a row via a fourth overall finish.Darrin Chapman

When mud gets tracked onto the bridge crossing it can get pretty slippery, as this unfortunate rider discovered.Darrin Chapman

Duvall barrels down one of the many downhills on the Steele Creek course. With the win, he moved to within 14 points of Russell in the series standings.Darrin Chapman

Josh Toth was nursing a hand injury at Steele Creek, however the FMF KTM rider still managed sixth overall, which was good enough for second in the XC2 250 Pro class.Darrin Chapman

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna mechanic Michael Thompson prepares a message for Josh Strang on a pit board. Strang rode a steady race en route to seventh overall.Darrin Chapman

Coastal Racing Husqvarna’s Pascal Rauchenecker was 10th overall and third in the XC2 250 Pro division.Darrin Chapman

Duvall (989) leads Kailub Russell (1) through lappers near the end of the three-hour race.Darrin Chapman

SRT Racing’s Evan Smith navigates one of the creek crossings en route to a 19th-place finish.Darrin Chapman

After seven laps of racing, FMF KTM’s Russell came up four-seconds short of the victory.Darrin Chapman