Strang salvages valuable GNCC points

The fifth round of the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series took place this weekend in Society Hill, South Carolina. Before the race started, a big rain storm hit, creating a lot of mud holes and caused GNCC officials to reroute a lot of the course. The outcome was a nine-mile course and, by race time, the weather cleared.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Josh Strang jumped off the line and rounded the first turn with the holeshot. The Australian’s lead continued for most of the first lap where he would switch between first and second place with FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell. At the end of the first lap, Strang chose a bad line which led to him getting stuck in a mud hole for around one minute. He was able to get his bike free and continued to push on, and by the second lap, he was back inside the top ten. Another setback cost Strang a lot of time, but for the next three laps, he charged his FC450 all the way back to sixth Overall in the XC1 Pro Class.

“The weather made this race a tough one,” said Strang. “I got a good jump and grabbed the holeshot. I led for a little but after a few mishaps, I really had to push myself back up into the top ten. I managed a sixth in my class and lost the points lead. It is a bummer, but we will move onto the next race with more drive.”

Fellow Australian, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Daniel Milner, finished behind Strang in seventh Overall.

XC1 Results

1. Kailub Russell
2. Jordan Ashburn
3. Thad Duvall
4. Chris Bach
5. Steward Baylor Jr.
6. Josh Strang
7. Daniel Milner
8. Ricky Russell
9. Chris Douglas
10. Cory Buttrick

Championship Standings

1. Kailub Russell (123)
2. Josh Strang (117)
3. Chris Bach (89)
4. Daniel Milner (69)
5. Jordan Ashburn (66)
6. Ryan Sipes (66)
7. Steward Baylor Jr. (62)
8. Trevor Bollinger (62)
9. Craig Delong (51)
10. Grant Baylor (50)