After a solid start to the 2024 GNCC season in South Carolina, Australian Josh Strang’s momentum was halted by a stroke of bad luck at the Wild Boar GNCC in Florida, the second round of the championship.
The sunny, warm conditions that greeted riders at the Florida event were in stark contrast to the treacherous, muddy terrain of the season opener in Big Buck, South Carolina. However, Strang’s promising performance was once again marred by an unexpected issue, which dashed his hopes of a strong finish.
At Round 1, Strang’s debut with the Liqui Moly Beta Factory Race Team was nothing short of impressive. Despite battling brutal conditions, he secured a solid fourth-place finish in the XC1 class aboard the Factory 480 RR. Strang’s experience and consistency allowed him to navigate the slippery, rutted course, despite a few bad line choices that cost him time. Although he couldn’t quite land on the podium, his performance was a promising start to the season.
“The race for me went well,” Strang said after Round 1. “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.”
The optimism from the opening round was short-lived, as Round 2 at the Wild Boar GNCC would prove to be a challenge for Strang. The Australian rider started strong in the XC1 class, maintaining a solid pace throughout the race. However, disaster struck when a fluke mechanical issue, caused by a stray wire, disrupted his race and cost him valuable time in the pits. Although the issue was fixed, Strang lost significant positions in the process and was unable to recover.
With the bike issue behind him, Strang finished the race in 11th place overall in the XC1 class but without points. Despite the frustrating setback, Strang’s perseverance was evident as he continued to battle through the rest of the race. The team is now focused on moving forward and looking ahead to the next race in Alabama.
“The weekend went well, we had our Beta rig set up nice for a good turnout of Florida fans!” Strang reflected. “My race was going well until a stray wire cost me some time in the pits. Ultimately my day was ended, but we fixed the issue so we could get credited with a finish, but we weren’t able to score points. We have a new race venue this weekend, so looking forward to getting after it again.”
As Strang and the Liqui Moly Beta team head to Talladega GNCC in Alabama for Round 3, they remain determined to bounce back from the bad luck of the first two rounds. With Strang’s consistent drive and experience, the team is optimistic about what’s to come in the rest of the 2024 season.
