New Zealand riders finished among the leading bunch at the latest round of the Grand National Cross-country Championships in the United States at the weekend.

Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley placed fifth in the XC1 Pro class at this ninth round of 13 in the GNCC series at Snowshoe in West Virginia and Wellington’s Rory Mead was about eight minutes behind in sixth spot, although neither result was want the brave Kiwis really wanted.

Yamaha ace Whibley is the defending GNCC champion in the USA and his chances of retaining the No.1 on his YZ450F bike look remote now with him sitting at fifth overall in the 2013 standings and the series into its final phase with just four races left to run.

Mead (KTM), who was New Zealand enduro champion on a Yamaha YZ450F in 2011, is also out of contention for the main prize, his result at the weekend enough only for him to be 17th in the overall championship standings thus far.

Ohio’s Kailub Russell (KTM) came from behind to secure his third consecutive win of the season, closing the points gap on his team-mate Charlie Mullins at the top of the championship standings.

Russell started on the front row alongside Mullins, Whibley, Chris Bach and Australian Josh Strang, but a crash on the opening lap dropped him back.

Mullins, meanwhile, was out front and in clear air for the first two laps.

American Honda’s Thad DuVall started on the second row, only 10 seconds behind the first five riders, and, by the end of the opening lap he had made his way into the second position where he figured in a battle with Whibley’s Yamaha team-mate Jordan Ashburn.

Meanwhile, Russell was making a charge and he eventually caught and passed the leaders.

Mullins made a valiant charge on Russell during the final lap but came up short, finishing 10 seconds behind.

Russell’s victory marked three-in-a-row for the Ohio native, closing the points gap on Mullins to only three points as the riders now head into the summer break.

The next round of the GNCC is set for Unadilla, near New York, on September 8.

Whibley is supported by Monster Energy, Sargent Yamaha in Masterton, MotoSR suspension, BikesportNZ.com, Graphic MX Creation and Yamaha Motor New Zealand.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

XC1 Event Results:

1.      Kailub Russell (KTM)

2.      Charlie Mullins (KTM)

3.      Thad DuVall (HON)

4.      Chris Bach (KTM)

5.      Paul Whibley (YAM)

6.      Rory Mead (KTM)

7.      Adam Bonneur (KAW)

8.      Takeshi Koikeda (HON)

9.      Mark Fortner (BET)

10.    Ricky Russell (YAM)

XC1 Series Standings:

1.      Charlie Mullins (227)

2.      Kailub Russell (220)

3.      Chris Bach (157)

4.      Thad DuVall (157)

5.      Josh Strang (147)

6.      Paul Whibley (143)

7.      Jordan Ashburn (123)

8.      Takeshi Koikeda (114)

9.      Adam Bonneur (112)

10.    Ricky Russell (104)

XC2 Event Results:

1.      Grant Baylor (KTM)

2.      Jason Thomas (KTM)

3.      Shane Hufford Jr (KTM)

4.      Scott Grills (KAW)

5.      Layne Michael (KTM)

6.      Jesse Groemm (KTM)

7.      AJ Stewart (YAM)

8.      Ian Blythe (KTM)

9.      Chris Douglas (HSQ)

10.    Sam Evans (KTM)

XC2 Series Standings:

1.      Grant Baylor (203)

2.      Jason Thomas (180)

3.      Andrew DeLong (121)

4.      Shane Hufford Jr (115)

5.      AJ Stewart (102)

6.      Zach Nolan (96)

7.      Travis Coy (91)

8.      Layne Michael (89)

9.      Jedediah Haines (88)

10.    Chris Douglas (86)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

1.      Charlie Mullins (223)

2.      Kailub Russell (220)

3.      Chris Bach (151)

4.      Thad DuVall (135)

5.      Paul Whibley (127)

6.      Josh Strang (122)

7.      Grant Baylor (109)

8.      Jason Thomas (106)

9.      Jordan Ashburn (91)

10.    Andrew DeLong (61)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2013 National Champion.