The Kailub Russell motocross cameo is unfortunately over after just one and a half motos. We were pumped to hear that the five-time GNCC Champion would be lining up for the final three nationals for the Red Bull / KTM team, but the muddy conditions at Unadilla that everyone thought the off road specialist would thrive in ended up biting him. After qualifying 12th and finishing a very impressive 6th in the opening moto at Unadilla, Kailub went down hard late in moto two. The crash took him out of moto two, and he posted today that he would be sitting out the Budds Creek and Ironman Nationals as well so that he can recover fully and be ready to lock down a sixth GNCC Championship.
“Unfortunately I will not be lining up for the next two nationals,” Kailub said from his @KR_557 Instagram account today. “I’m not hurt but rather banged up from my moto 2 crash. Haven’t been able to ride, and for myself it’s imperative I get as much seat time as possible on this factory 450 machine as I can, in order to be able to race to my full potential. At this time I don’t feel I’m capable of handling this monster to my abilities and don’t want to cause further damage trying.”
Kailub’s crossover to motocross may not have lasted long and we unfortunately never got to see him on a dry circuit, but he definitely showed he can compete in any discipline where a dirt bike is involved. Mud or no mud, 6th place in a 450 National moto is no joke. We wish him luck in the rest of the 2018 GNCC series and we hope this is not the last we see of the #557 at the nationals.
