Eight-time GNCC Champion, AmPro Yamaha’s Kailub Russell, is set to race the Japan National Cross Country (JNCC) AAGP Sand Valley Hakkenden in Kimitsu, Chiba, Japan this weekend, November 2.

Kailub Russell will continue a tradition of JNCC President Masami Hoshino inviting GNCC riders to the season finale in exchange for Japanese riders who competed the Snowshoe round of the GNCC series earleir this year.

Kazuto Yano travelled to West Virginia and raced at the Snowshoe GNCC in June. Yano raced in the XC1 Open Pro class and finish 11th place at the mountain. Yoshihiro Iwai travelled over as well and raced in the Sportsman B (30+) class finishing 12th in the class.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the AAGP, which began as a standalone event prior to the creation of the JNCC series; much like the Blackwater 100 marked GNCC’s beginnings. The Sand Valley venue at Hakkenden is an impressive one which should test the riders.

GNCC Race Operations Manager Jared Bolton will escort Russell and the AmPro Yamaha team to Japan. Russell will race in the AA1 class in their PM race, while AmPro Team Manager Randy Hawkins will race in the Fun A class in their AM race. Randy’s son, Mitch Hawkins will race in the B class in the PM race, while Kailub’s son, Krue Russell will race on a YZ85 in their morning race.

Russell returns to Japan after having the opportunity to go back in 2009, and continue the tradition of attending the international event with fellow GNCC racers such as Paul Whibley, Robbie Jenks (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, Josh Strang (2013), Jordan Ashburn (2014), Chris Bach (2015), Trevor Bollinger (2016), Ricky Russell (2017), Craig Delong (2018), Andrew Delong (2019); and most recently, Steward Baylor (2023), Nick DeFeo and Mike Witkowski (2024) in being selected to represent GNCC Racing in Japan.

Find JNCC on Facebook for updates and GNCC channels starting tomorrow, October 30 through Monday, November 3, 2025. 

Watch the race live via JNCC YouTube channel here:

Photo Credit: Mack Faint + JNCC