Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/117782
down a bit," DuVall said. "I learned a lot from both of these guys today [Russell and Mullins]." The final lap of racing was all about the lead battle as Russell and Mullins were neck-and-neck on Lap 7, coming through the finish line less than two seconds apart. "I took a bad line through the mud hole on the last lap and that's where Kailub passed me for the lead," Mullins said. "Unfortunately I came up a little bit short but I'll take a second any day." Russell's win leaves him tied with teammate Charlie Mullins after two rounds of racing. "I'm really happy with the win and every point counts," Russell commented. "I didn't feel like I was the fastest one out there today but if I wouldn't have won, Charlie would have walked away with a ten point lead and I'm happy that we're tied up." Grant Baylor finished with an impressive second place finish in XC2 Thomas got off to a mid-pack start and quickly worked his way into podium contention. However, Thomas experienced a hard crash while battling with Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com's Jed Haines that left the reigning XC2 champ a little shaken up. Thomas managed to finish fifth place behind Shane Hufford Jr., who finished a season-best fourth in the class. Motocross superstar Zach Osborne grabbed his second consecutive podium finish as a mere visitor of the GNCC Series before he heads back to his normal West Coast Supercross duties. Osborne battled with Thomas throughout the day, eventually sealing in the third place finish. DeLong leads Grant Baylor by nine points in the XC2 Pro Lites division heading into Round 3 in North Carolina. "I'm just pumped to start the 2013 season off with two consecutive wins and put myself into a good position in the point standings," said DeLong. Strang and Bach rounded out the top five in the XC1 class, while reigning champ Paul Whibley finished sixth. Whibley's AmPro Yamaha teammate, Jordan Ashburn, came in seventh just behind Whibley and Litz Racing/Ride Center USA Takeshi Koikeda finished eighth. Yamaha's Ricky Russell and XC1 rookie Adam Bonneur rounded out the Top 10. North Carolina's Trevor Barrett finished twenty-sixth overall to take the afternoon's Top Amateur Honors, while also securing the 4-Stroke A Lites class win. The 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series continues April 6 and 7 with the FMF Steele Creek GNCC. For more information on the series, visit In just his first year of XC2 Pro Lites competition, 15year-old Grant Baylor grabbed his first-ever Pro Lites podium finish - a feat that has only been accomplished by his older brother and former XC2 champ Steward Baylor Jr. The afternoon began on point for Baylor as he grabbed the DigitalOffroad.com XC2 Holeshot Award ahead of a full class of 33 XC2 racers. F.A.R Husqvarna's Andrew DeLong got off to a back-of-the-pack start but eventually made his way to the front where he and Baylor battled all afternoon. DirtWise Schools/KTM-Parts.com/Maxxis rider Jason March 2013 27