Three seconds seperate the podium at the 2025 John Penton Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) in Ohio where Kailub Russell wins again, his first for four years and a maiden on the AM Pro Yamaha with teammate Liam Draper second and Phoenix Honda’s Cody Barnes taking a career-best third and the XC2 win. 

Fittingly at an event celebrating the 100 years of life of the off-road legend who gave this race its name and trophy, it was GNCC’s most decorated riders Kailub Russell who took the win.

The AM Pro Yamaha rider admits the process of getting to grips with the YZ has been a tough one, after so many years on the KTM, but said he is finally feeling like he is part of the bike as the 34-year-old claimed his first of the season, first for Yamaha and five years after retiring.

“I need to remember this one.” Said Kailub. “These are getting harder to come by, and I learned my lesson this year.

“It’s been a struggle, trying to get used to this bike and dealing with some issues. I just chipped away, chipped away. I’m to the point where I’m riding my motorcycle and I’m having fun with it and I’m not just thinking about what the motorcycle is doing the whole time.

“I honestly just willed myself to get that one. Even if I had just won the XC1 class and the XC2 guys beat me, but man I’m so stoked to get that overall win.”

It wasn’t any easy victory by any means with his teammate Liam Draper leading then hounding KR all the way to the flag. The BluCru pair were trailing Phoenix Honda’s Cody Barnes as they entered the final lap. Barnes was leading outright on corrected time having started on the second row with the XC2 250 boys but had a coming together with Ben Kelley which cost him just enough time to lose out on the overall with all three within  three seconds.

Barnes did have his best-ever result though with a first-ever overall podium and the XC2 win and third behind Draper and Russell.

In a topsy-turvey day in a season which has thrown up plenty of curve balls, Josh Strang was narrowly fourth and third in XC1 Pro. The Australian has previously won this famous John Penton trophy and was within 10 seconds of the win and with Mike Witkowski completing the top five one second further back.

Where were the championship protagonists? Well, overall points leader Grant Davis had been leading early on before a crash which put him out the race. It was bad enough that Johnny Girroir (back racing after his injuries but out of contention) stopped to help his KTM teammate.

With one GNCC round remaining Davis wraps up a consecutive XC2 250 title but the big prize is what he and everyone is aiming at and his points lead took a hit with this DNF. Ben Kelley could have done more damage but after that coming together with Barnes, P8 overall reduces the difference between the KTM riders to seven points. Third scratch at the John Penton moves Barnes to third overall in the points.

John Penton 2025 race results:

Steede and Richards close for WXC win

There’s no stopping Korie Steede just lately as the Rockstar Husqvarna rider took another victory in WXC.

The two hour morning race saw Dakota Cunningham take the overall but he was followed home by a quartet of female racers. Richards took the holeshot and was leading in the final lap but got tangled on a hillclimb and dropped to fourth before fighting back in the remining miles. 

Steede clocked in just two seconds ahead of Brandy Richards with Rachel Archer third in WXC, 20 seconds back and Aussie Danielle Macdonald 15s further adrift. Archer still leads the points standings by seven with one round remaining.

AM race results:

Photo Credit: Mack Faint