Racing

Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC Photo Gallery

Kailub Russell tops round 2 of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series in Florida

March 14, 2018

Kailub Russell made it two wins in a row in the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series by taking a come-from-behind victory at the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. Here's a look at the race this past weekend through the lens of photographer Darrin Chapman.

Kailub Russell brings the thunder as he rockets toward a second-straight win in the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series at the Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. The FMF KTM rider now owns a 14-point lead in the series’ standings over Steward Baylor.Darrin Chapman

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thad Duvall battled with Russell (background) for third near the halfway mark of the race. Russell, however, unleashed a sprint during the final two laps that was unmatchable.Darrin Chapman

Splish, splash! There was no shortage of mud puddles at this year’s Wild Boar GNCC. JCR Honda’s Trevor Bollinger splashes through a water hole en route to a sixth-place finish.Darrin Chapman

WXC competitor Mackenzie Tricker finds herself in over her head (almost literally) in this water crossing. The crossings were murky and difficult to navigate.Darrin Chapman

Ricky Russell is hard on the gas and moving forward. The AmPro Yamaha rider has demonstrated he has the speed to run at the front but needs to work on his consistency.Darrin Chapman

Josh Strang ran second for the first half of the race, but he ran out of energy at the halfway point and faded to ninth at the finish. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider suffered from flu-like symptoms early in the week, and he told me during a post-race phone call that he felt the aftereffects hit him on lap 3. He was barely able to hold onto the handlebar during the final laps of the race.Darrin Chapman

Ben Kelley passed Josh Toth on the final lap to win the XC2 250 Pro class with a fourth-place overall finish. The win was Kelley’s first-ever in the XC2 class.Darrin Chapman

Toth won the XC2 class at the opening round in South Carolina. His runner-up finish in Florida leaves him tied with Kelley for first in the overall class point standings.Darrin Chapman

Solid Performance KTM’s Jesse Groemm wheel-taps his way through one of the whoop sections. Due to its sandy base, the Florida course featured endless whoop sections and will probably be the most demanding that the riders will see all year, with the possible exception of June’s Snowshoe GNCC in West Virginia.Darrin Chapman

Baylor jumped out to a strong early lead in the race and held it until the end of the two-hour mark, when a mistake at one of the water holes allowed Russell to pull within striking distance.Darrin Chapman

KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones claimed her second win of the 2018 season at the Wild Boar GNCC. Here, Jones leads Bonanza Plumbing/Trail Jester KTM’s Tricker early in the race.Darrin Chapman

Fly Racing/Maxxis/Seat Concepts KTM-backed rider Becca Sheets weaves in and out of the water holes while trying to catch Jones in the WXC class.Darrin Chapman