04.03.2018
Round 3 - AMA Big 6 Grand Prix Series - March 4, 2018
DEVORE, Calif. – The FMF KTM Factory Racing Team set out for Round 3 of the 2018 AMA Big 6 Grand Prix Series at Glen Helen Raceway on Saturday where they came away with two-top five finishes in the premier classes. Kailub Russell earned his best finish with 4th overall in the WCGP Pro class, while Kacy Martinez extended her podium streak to three-in-a-row in the WCGP Women’s Pro class. Additionally, FMF/RPM/KTM’s Eric Yorba continued his bid for a first-time win as he captured a close 2nd place finish in the WCGP Pro division.
It was an unusually cold and rainy day in Southern California, making for ideal race conditions at Glen Helen Raceway. Utilizing the facility’s world-renown motocross track, the eight-lap WCGP Pro race began with a gate drop into the MX section. As the first gate dropped for the WCGP Pro class, Russell, a five-time GNCC National Champion, attempted to shoot off the line aboard his KTM 450 XC-F but he soon stopped in his tracks when his bike stalled just after the gate due to a cold engine. As a result, Russell began his quest toward the front with a last-place deficit. Russell was able to quickly work his way through the pack where he reached a top-five position by lap two. By the halfway point, Russell had put himself into a comfortable 4th place position as he set his sights on the three-way lead battle ahead. Russell was able to bring himself within 10-15 seconds of the front-runners but a few mistakes in the final laps caused him to fall out of striking distance once again. Despite a hard charge from last place to 4th, Russell concluded Round 3 with a 4th place finish as he takes one step closer to the podium in his first full-season of AMA Big 6 racing.
Russell: “Coming from the east coast, I couldn’t have asked for better dirt conditions! The dirt was really tacky and it made for good racing all day. On the line, we had a delayed start and I wasn’t really conscious of warming my bike up so as soon as the gate dropped, I took off and it flamed out leaving me dead last off the start. I rode really well all day but I just had a bad start and had to work my way up. I was catching those guys all day so I was happy about that, it’s just a matter of time before I put it all together. It starts at the start and I haven’t put the start together for the last two races. But I’m riding good, feeling comfortable and not overwhelmed like I was at the season opener.”
FMF/RPM/KTM’s Eric Yorba continued his climb toward the center of the podium in his first full-season in the WCGP Pro class, finishing 2nd overall at Round 3. Yorba was engaged in a close three-way battle for the lead all afternoon where he ultimately finished only one second behind the leader.
In the WCGP Women’s Pro class, Martinez got a good jump off the line aboard her KTM 250 XC-F, where she diced for the lead position right away. Martinez assumed the lead for the first segment of the opening lap before KTM-supported Brandy Richards moved to the front. Martinez maintained a close 2nd place position behind Richards for the first two laps before getting company from Tarah Gieger in 3rd. Martinez and Gieger battled it out for the remainder of the seven-lap race but in the end Martinez finished 3rd in the class. After three rounds, Martinez still holds the lead in the WCGP Women’s Pro Championship Standings.
Martinez: “I was happy with how I rode the whole race even though I finished 3rd. Brandy got around me but she didn’t pull away too quick. Tarah and I had a really good battle, which was a lot of fun. The course was fast but very fun and the terrain couldn’t have been better.”
Round 4: March 3-4 / 29 Palms Motorsports Complex / Twentynine Palms, California
WCGP Pro Results
1. Giacomo Redondi, 1:36:49, (8 laps)
2. Eric Yorba, KTM, 1:36:50
3. Trevor Stewart, HON, 1:36:51
4. Kailub Russell, KTM, 1:37:24
5. Zach Bell, HQV, 1:39:00
WCGP Women Pro Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM, 1:38:22 (7 laps)
2. Tarah Gieger, HON, 1:39:26
3. Kacy Martinez, KTM, 1:39:38