GNCC and Kailub Russel

10/11/2025 2:30am
As long as he's enjoying himself, who cares how he does. He's earned the right to just go out and enjoy races like you and I...

As long as he's enjoying himself, who cares how he does. He's earned the right to just go out and enjoy races like you and I do. The days of seriousness and stress are past. Myself, I'm glad he's out there having fun.

The italics makes your post look more regal. 👑 

1
10/12/2025 1:07pm Edited Date/Time 10/12/2025 1:10pm

Well, how’s that for tarnishing a legacy! 

20
Jtommr
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MN US
10/12/2025 1:11pm

KR557 just secured his 68th victory today at the John Penton GNCC.

22
fins227
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Chillicothe, OH US
10/12/2025 4:45pm

how bout that?

9

The Shop

10/12/2025 6:20pm
fins227 wrote:

how bout that?

I figured he'd get at least one this year. A lot of people had a lot of things to say when KR was talking in the pre season. Things like he was cocky, he was overconfident, etc... I think it was more of a stretch than he'd expected, but at the same time if you don't believe you can do it, you won't do it. Self confidence is mandatory for success. 

7
JustMX
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TN US
10/12/2025 6:40pm Edited Date/Time 10/12/2025 6:41pm

I wonder if he checks in here?

perhaps he saw the OP and got pissed off and fired up.

BOOM!

an overall win..... 

take that ryderyeck794

10
10/12/2025 7:34pm
JustMX wrote:

I wonder if he checks in here?

perhaps he saw the OP and got pissed off and fired up.

BOOM!

an overall win..... 

take that ryderyeck794

I want to take credit for that win, he saw this post and got fired up. I was screaming from the couch saying holy cow he proved my post wrong 😂😂

10
10/12/2025 7:37pm
Jtommr wrote:

KR557 just secured his 68th victory today at the John Penton GNCC.

I want to say the post helped to get him the win 😂😂😂. I was happy to see him get the win today!

2
Timo
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Wichita, KS US
10/12/2025 8:10pm
alexk417 wrote:
His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. Based on his...

His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. 

Based on his videos it almost sounds like he's riding a YZ250FX as you're right, the 450 is a tank, can anyone confirm that is or is not the case?  

I race a yz450fx in hare scrambles, why do you call it a tank? Personally I think it's a great woods racer, the torque really is awesome for those sudden climbs!

2
usp4u1
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Chicora, PA US
10/13/2025 4:45am

Glad he got a win.

 

Badass.

2
Spoonguy
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10/13/2025 4:48am

Genuine American bad ass.

AMetts
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10/13/2025 5:10am
sandman768 wrote:
Funny I was just wondering what happened with his comeback on the Yamaha….needs to get back on a pumpkin…300 or 350….450 is a tank in the...

Funny I was just wondering what happened with his comeback on the Yamaha….needs to get back on a pumpkin…300 or 350….450 is a tank in the woods….IMO…

alexk417 wrote:
His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. Based on his...

His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. 

Based on his videos it almost sounds like he's riding a YZ250FX as you're right, the 450 is a tank, can anyone confirm that is or is not the case?  

Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them to let him do that.

6
fins227
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Chillicothe, OH US
10/13/2025 11:14am
JustMX wrote:

I wonder if he checks in here?

perhaps he saw the OP and got pissed off and fired up.

BOOM!

an overall win..... 

take that ryderyeck794

He’s on here lol. 

ML512
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Wildomar, CA US
Fantasy
10/13/2025 11:20am
sandman768 wrote:
Funny I was just wondering what happened with his comeback on the Yamaha….needs to get back on a pumpkin…300 or 350….450 is a tank in the...

Funny I was just wondering what happened with his comeback on the Yamaha….needs to get back on a pumpkin…300 or 350….450 is a tank in the woods….IMO…

alexk417 wrote:
His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. Based on his...

His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. 

Based on his videos it almost sounds like he's riding a YZ250FX as you're right, the 450 is a tank, can anyone confirm that is or is not the case?  

AMetts wrote:
Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them...

Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them to let him do that.

Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's standing in front of it).

7
ML512
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10/13/2025 11:22am
ML512 wrote:
Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's...

Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's standing in front of it).

Nvm, definitely a 250 engine, just running 450 graphics.

12
AMetts
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10/13/2025 11:24am
alexk417 wrote:
His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. Based on his...

His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue. 

Based on his videos it almost sounds like he's riding a YZ250FX as you're right, the 450 is a tank, can anyone confirm that is or is not the case?  

AMetts wrote:
Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them...

Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them to let him do that.

ML512 wrote:
Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's...

Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's standing in front of it).

I do not know for sure but I heard they were testing on 250FX and think he was racing it at some locals here. Probably not ideal for Yamaha for their XC1 rider to not be on their flagship big bike but certainly within the rules. 

I'm sure watching some video from this weekend it would be easy enough to tell.  

1
3strokemx
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US
10/13/2025 1:07pm
AMetts wrote:
Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them...

Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them to let him do that.

ML512 wrote:
Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's...

Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's standing in front of it).

AMetts wrote:
I do not know for sure but I heard they were testing on 250FX and think he was racing it at some locals here. Probably not...

I do not know for sure but I heard they were testing on 250FX and think he was racing it at some locals here. Probably not ideal for Yamaha for their XC1 rider to not be on their flagship big bike but certainly within the rules. 

I'm sure watching some video from this weekend it would be easy enough to tell.  

Didn't Draper get 2nd on the 450?  I think Yamaha will be OK with that.

2
kopfjaeger
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Panther City, TX US
10/13/2025 5:12pm
AMetts wrote:
Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them...

Yeah he is on a 250FX now, he was on the 450 the beginning of the year. I think it took some some convincing for them to let him do that.

ML512 wrote:
Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's...

Are they trying to skirt it? Because his radiator shroud says 450 from the podium shots at John Penton GNCC (can't see the engine because he's standing in front of it).

AMetts wrote:
I do not know for sure but I heard they were testing on 250FX and think he was racing it at some locals here. Probably not...

I do not know for sure but I heard they were testing on 250FX and think he was racing it at some locals here. Probably not ideal for Yamaha for their XC1 rider to not be on their flagship big bike but certainly within the rules. 

I'm sure watching some video from this weekend it would be easy enough to tell.  

Back when Cairoli was on yamaha he supposedly raced a 450 that was sleeved down to a 400. Biggest issue with a 450 in the woods tends to be the inertia from the crank though. 

3
TAUTOG
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Mohrsville, PA US
10/14/2025 6:34am

Kailub Russell: “I need to remember this one. These are getting harder to come by, and I learned my lesson this year. I just stuck with it and kept trying. There were times when I wanted  to give up, but I just kept fighting. Man, I have to thank the whole team, Cory and Ryan and everybody underneath the tent. 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 feel really good and comfortable on it. Then 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.” 

11
tahoefd
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Minden, NV US
10/14/2025 7:34am

Wonder if it's a big bore 250?

2
devotid
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Saginaw, MI US
10/14/2025 7:41am

You could see him really pushing on that last lap. Dude was blowing bubbles under that helmet.

You could see it in his face.... He needed that one. 

"Then I honestly just willed myself to get that one."

Way to go Kailub!

7
BoxcarWilly
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Thunder Bay, ON CA
10/14/2025 8:53am

Only 4 seconds separating the podium. I think KR was being a bit of a whiny baby about the other guys, especially at the beginning of the year when he was getting smoked. Nice to see him return to form!

1
4
Mayo513
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Columbus, OH US
10/14/2025 9:15am

Here's his GoPro POV from the first lap, some crazy good lines he scouted out and some pretty good gambles early on. Really shows the pace the top guys were pushing. His cardio is incredible to hold that pace for almost 3 hours and even get much faster lap times at the end. Would love to see Grant Davis's POV as he had a top lap and was winning on adjusted time before the big crash that ended his day.

 

6
fins227
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Chillicothe, OH US
10/14/2025 6:25pm

Some of those lines in that first bike only section are insane. Ive ridden some of those sections in the past and there’s big rocks sprinkled through the woods. He’s just pinning it  through there. 

3
10/14/2025 7:10pm

So this 250/450 bike he’s riding, wasn’t there talk of him developing a 350 for Yamaha? I haven’t been following it but just curious if it could be a sleeved down 450 or big bore 250?

3
GBS
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Grove City, PA US
10/15/2025 12:19am

Pretty awesome.

AMetts
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Lincolnton, NC US
10/16/2025 4:57am

He goes into detail on OTP, he's on a stock 250FX with a pipe and ECU. He was really struggling with the suspension setup going to the Yamaha and then moving from the 450 to the 250 and it sounds like him and Factory Connection finally got everything sorted out and got this win. 

 

 

6
sandman768
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Saratoga Springs, NY US
10/19/2025 8:08am

No way this dude has to buy & sell his own bikes? Bro want nothing to do with that beast in the woods…😂

1
10/19/2025 5:09pm
sandman768 wrote:

No way this dude has to buy & sell his own bikes? Bro want nothing to do with that beast in the woods…😂

Don't be so sure. AmPro Yamaha isn't a factory team.......

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