Ricky Russell to Compete in AAGP Season Finale on November 5

Courtesy of GNCC Racing

Ricky Russell to Compete in AAGP Season Finale on November 5GNCC and JNCC Continue 12 Years of Partnership

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 2, 2017) - Racer Productions, producer of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, presented by Maxxis, and AMA National Championship, is pleased to announce that XC1 Open Pro racer Ricky Russell will compete in the AAGP season finale on Sunday, November 5, at the Jigatake Ski Resort in Omachi City, Nagano, Japan. This announcement comes as GNCC Racing marks the 12th year of partnership with the Japan National Cross Country (JNCC) Series, Japan's all-motorcycle cross-country championship.

Russell's 2017 GNCC season has been stellar, where he claimed his first-ever career overall win at the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC and currently sits fourth overall in the National Championship standings. Russell follows GNCC racers such as Paul Whibley (2006), Jason Raines, Charlie Mullins and Rodney Smith (2007), Nate Kanney and Thad Duvall (2008), Josh Strang and Kailub Russell (2009), Cory Buttrick (2010), Jesse Robinson and Jason Thomas (2011), Rory Mead and Josh Strang (2013), Jordan Ashburn (2014), Chris Bach (2015); and most recently, Trevor Bollinger (2016), in being selected to represent GNCC Racing in Japan.

"It's an honor to be selected to represent GNCC in Japan in November," said Russell. "The N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha team has had a long-standing relationship with the JNCC series, and I am looking forward to continuing the partnership with them next month. I hope to be able to make my fans and sponsors proud and bring back a win!"

Ricky Russell will travel to Japan one week after the season finale Ironman GNCC to compete in the AAGP race, which is apart of the JNCC series.

- Ken Hill

It is a tradition for JNCC President Masami Hoshino to invite GNCC riders to the season finale in exchange for Japanese riders that will compete in a single round of the GNCC series. Earlier this year, Yamamoto Hiroshi traveled to West Virginia and raced in the XC1 Open Pro class at the Snowshoe GNCC in June where he finished 14th in class, respectively.

Russell's mechanic, Lucas Statom, girlfriend, Suzannah Jerden, and GNCC Jr. Trail Boss, Ryan Echols, will accompany Russell as he makes his bid against Japan's top off-road talent including former GNCC guest racer Takeshi Koikeda. The three-hour AAGP in Japan follows the same format as an American GNCC. For more information on the JNCC, please click HERE.

The 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series continues in St. Clairsville, Ohio this weekend, October 7 an 8, with the Polaris Ace Powerline Park GNCC.

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and to catch the latest news on Ricky Russell and his adventure with JNCC Racing.

About GNCC Racing:

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

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