2025 WILD BOAR GNCC: JOHNNY GIRROIR VS. KAILUB RUSSELL

[MotoFactory]

The Moose Racing Wild Boar was round two of the 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country GNCC Series  and it presented the first of what might be many showdowns between reigning XC1 champion Johnny Girroir and returning legend Kailub Russell.

As the ten seconds call was made and the green flag flew, it would be Flatrock Motorclub GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn earning himself the $250 Landers KTM XC1 Holeshot Award. However, it wouldn’t be long for Russell and his AmPro Yamaha to climb towards the front of the pack as he was hungry to battle for that overall win.

Russell would make his way into the lead on the opening lap, but he would have to face a hard battle with FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir for the remainder of the race. Russell and Girroir would swap the lead position for the next couple of laps before Girroir could make the pass stick for the last three laps of the race. Girroir would push himself on the last lap, coming through to take the Florida win by eight seconds over Russell who returned to racing this year after a four-year hiatus.

 

Kailub Russell (AmPro Yamaha) battled back-and-forth to earn second overall. Photo: Mack Faint

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Benjamin Kelley would claim third overall on the day after some unfortunate mishaps set him back from challenging for the overall win on the day. Kelley would maintain and push himself forward throughout the day after getting shuffled towards the back of the pack off the start.

Teammates, and XC2 250 Pro competitors, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis and Angus Riordan continued to battle for the entire three-hour race, swapping the lead position on several different occasions. Davis would hold on to grab the XC2 win and fourth overall on the day while Riordan finished second in XC2 and fifth overall at the Moose Racing Wild Boar.

AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper would battle back to finish inside the top five in XC1 after crossing the line eleventh on the opening lap. Draper put his head down and pushed through the sandy terrain steadily making his way up through the riders as he crossed the line sixth overall on the day and fourth in XC1. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Michael Witkowski continued to battle mid-pack throughout the day as he finished fifth in XC1 and seventh overall on the day in Florida.

Grant Davis (FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers) grabbed the XC2 250 Pro class win. Photo: Mack Faint

Lyndon Snodgrass would put in a good ride as he battled within the top five for the majority of the race. Snodgrass would receive a one position penalty for receiving gas outside of his designated pit area, therefore making his sixth in the XC1 class and eighth overall on the day. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes would come through to round out the top three XC2 250 Pro class finishers and ninth overall on the day, while Enduro Engineering Triumph Racing’s Ricky Russell rounded out the top 10 overall finishers and earned himself a seventh in XC1.

After earning the holeshot award, Ashburn would come through to finish eighth in XC1, followed by Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong and Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Steward Baylor finishing ninth and tenth in the XC1 Open Pro class.

 

James Jenkins earned the XC3 125 Pro-Am class win. Photo: Mack Faint

In the XC3 125 Pro-Am class it was Jayson Crawford jumping out to grab the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales Holeshot Award, but at the end of the day it would be James Jenkins coming through to take the class win after holding the lead position for the duration of the race. Luke Brown would battle his way up to second on the day, and Riley Messer rounded out the top three XC3 finishers in Florida.

The Moose Racing Wild Boar Top Amateur honors would go to Joseph Cunningham as he came through to earn 16th overall on the day and earn the 250 A class win. Gavin Simon would come through right behind Cunningham to take second in the 250 A class, and on the Top Amateur podium as he finished 17th overall. Lane Whitmer would come through 19th overall to round out the top three in the 250 A class, and atop the Top Amateur podium at round two.

 

Brandy Richards (center), Tayla Jones (right) and Korie Steede (left) rounded out the top three WXC finishers in Florida. Photo: Mack Faint

As the WXC class took off in the morning race it was Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer grabbing the $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award to get started, but she would soon feel the pressure from FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Brandy Richards. As the class emerged from the trail and headed towards timing and scoring on the opening lap, it was Richards leading the way and place a substantial gap over the rest of the field. Richards would continue to lead the way for the remaining laps, earning the win in the sandy terrain.

After starting back in the fifth place position on the opening lap, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tayla Jones would steadily work her way up through the field making the necessary passes to land her a spot on the podium. On the last lap Jones would make a final push, and finish second in the WXC class as she makes her return to GNCC Racing this season. Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede would battle towards the front of the pack for the majority of the day going between second and third in the class. As the checkered flag flew, Steede would round out the top three WXC finishers.

 

Travis Lentz earned his second-straight youth overall win. Photo: Mack Faint

Travis Lentz would come through in the Youth Bike race to earn his second-straight overall win of the season, while he also went on to earn the YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class win. Kamden Krause would battle through to take second overall on the day and in the YXC1 class behind Lentz, while Ace Tokar earned the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class win and rounded out the top three overall Youth Bike finishers. Earning third in YXC1 would go to Cooper Duff as Hayden Dupuis and Phillip Arnold came through to finish second and third in the YXC2 class.

In the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class it was Hunter Carey coming through to earn the class win, while Gavin Abboud took the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win at round two. Evan Porter would earn the 85 (12-13) class win, while Trason Landrum earned the 85 (11) class win. Tripp Lewis would earn first place in the 85 (7-10) class, Todd Toland took the win in the 65 (10-11) class and Matthew Simoneaux earned the 65 (9) class win. The 65 (7-8) class win went to Tanner Toland and Sahara Robinson earned the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class win in Florida. Vaida Lavergne took the Girls 85 (7-13) class win while Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Camden Phillips would earn the win in the Trail Rider (7-15) class.

 

Joshua Webb was honored as the AMSOIL Moto Hero. Photo: Mack Faint

The AMSOIL Moto Hero was awarded to Joshua Webb from Montville, Ohio. Josh is in the United States Marine Corps as a Lance Corporeal. Josh served during Operation Enduring Freedom as an artillery specialist from 2008 until 2012. He has been racing since 2018, and back in 2020 he earned the Vet B National Championship. Josh will receive an AMSOIL shopping spree, commemorative American flag from Columbia flag and sign co. Plus $200 gift certificate for their online store and a $250 KANATI certificate.

The 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized continues next weekend on March 8-9 at an all-new location with the Talladega GNCC in Talladega, Alabama.

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.

Moose Racing Wild Boar Top Three Overall: Johnny Girroir (center), Kailub Russell (right) and Benjamin Kelley (left). Photo: Mack Faint

 

Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC Results and Points Standings
Palatka, Florida: Round 2 of 13
Sunday, March 2, 2025

      Overall Event Results:

1. 1. Jonathan Girroir (KTM)
   2. Kailub Russell (YAM)
   3. Benjamin Kelley (KTM)
   4. Grant Davis (KTM)
   5. Angus Riordan (KTM)
   6. Liam Draper (YAM)
   7. Michael Witkowski (HON)
   8. Lyndon Snodgrass (KAW)
   9. Cody Barnes (HON)
   10. Ricky Russell (TRI)

 

*Overall National Championship Standings:

1. Benjamin Kelley (39)
2. Nicholas DeFeo (37)
3. Angus Riordan (37)
4. Joshua Toth (33)
5. Kailub Russell (32)
6. Grant Davis (31)
7. Jonathan Girroir (30)
8. Lyndon Snodgrass (27)
9. Michael Witkowski (25)
10. Cody Barnes (24)
    *Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2025 National Champion.

      XC1 Open Pro Event Results:

1. 1. Jonathan Girroir (KTM)
   2. Kailub Russell (YAM)
   3. Benjamin Kelley (KTM)
   4. Liam Draper (YAM)
   5. Michael Witkowski (HON)
   6. Lyndon Snodgrass (KAW)
   7. Ricky Russell (TRI)
   8. Jordan Ashburn (GAS)
   9. Craig Delong (HQV)
   10. Steward Baylor (KAW)

 

 XC2 250 Pro Event Results:

1. Grant Davis (KTM)
2. Angus Riordan (KTM)
3. Cody Barnes (HON)
4. Josh Toth (KAW)
5. Nicholas DeFeo (KAW)
6. Jason Tino (GAS)
7. Jonathan Johnson (HON)
8. Jhak Walker (BET)
9. Alexandre Gougeon (KTM)
10. Hunter Bush (KAW)

The post 2025 WILD BOAR GNCC: JOHNNY GIRROIR VS. KAILUB RUSSELL appeared first on Dirt Bike Magazine.

Просмотреть полный текст статьи