The 2024 GNCC season kicked off in brutal conditions at the Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina, where heavy morning rain transformed the track into a slippery, rutted mess.
Despite the challenging terrain, Australian Josh Strang delivered a strong performance in his first race with the Liqui Moly Beta Factory Race Team, securing fourth place in the XC1 class aboard the Factory 480 RR—all while balancing his new role as team manager.
Strang approached the muddy conditions with a calculated strategy, ensuring his bike was well-prepped and adjusting his riding to suit the deteriorating track. While a few bad line choices cost him time, he managed to stay consistent and push close to a podium finish.
“The race for me went well,” said Strang. “A lot of work for me leading up to the event with the management role on top of getting ready to race. The track was ‘fun,’ but it was a traditional GNCC, so we really had to save the motorcycle. I was happy to get fourth in XC1 and close to the podium. Besides getting stuck a bunch due to my bad line choices, the Factory 480 RR was awesome all day!”
With the season opener behind them, Strang and the Liqui Moly Beta squad now set their sights on Round 2 in Florida, where they’ll look to build on their solid start.
