GNCC

Strong GNCC season start for Josh Strang

Posted:

Friday, April 1st, 2016

9:13 PM

2016 has started in the best possible way for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing‰Ûªs Josh Strang.

Hitting winning form during the closing stages of the 2015 GNCC series, following a well-earned winter break back home in Australia he‰Ûªs secured victories at both rounds one and two of this year's GNCC championship.

Josh, how does it feel to be heading into this weekend‰Ûªs third round of the GNCC series with a perfect 60-point score from rounds one and two?

Josh Strang: ‰ÛÏIt feels good, but there‰Ûªs a long way to go in the championship. There‰Ûªs nothing better than making a winning start but I‰Ûªve made strong starts to championships before so I know not to get too carried away. I felt good heading into Florida but I never put too much pressure on myself to win there. It‰Ûªs an important race, but it‰Ûªs just one race and not like any other round of the series.‰Û

Josh Strang

The GNCC opener in Florida is well known for being brutal. Did it, as well as the second round in Georgia, go as you hoped it would?

Josh Strang: ‰ÛÏLike I said, I felt like I should be competitive in Florida. But it was the race in Georgia that I guess was the more important result. That race is like a regular GNCC, so to win there was important to me. I was last off the line in Florida but the track was a little tighter than normal and the race pace a little slower, which helped me. Honestly, the win came pretty easily ‰ÛÒ I felt good. At round two I rode with Kailub all race and beat him at the finish.‰Û

Josh Strang

2016 is your second year with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. How important is it for you that you‰Ûªre able to build on the hard work everyone put in last season?

Josh Strang: ‰ÛÏContinuing to be a part of the Husqvarna team ‰ÛÒ a team that‰Ûªs putting as much into getting winning results as I am ‰ÛÒ is a huge part of why I‰Ûªm riding well at the moment. It‰Ûªs been hard for me in the past, switching teams year-on-year. Now I‰Ûªm really settled, which is really showing in my results. Honestly, my bike is really good. But that‰Ûªs just one part of having a solid programme. My bike and being with a team of people who want to win, it‰Ûªs really cool.‰Û

Kailub Russell has been the dominant rider in recent GNCC seasons. Do you feel like you now have everything you need to challenge him for the title?

Josh Strang: ‰ÛÏKailub set the bar high in 2015. He‰Ûªs been the rider to beat for a few years now, and knows woods racing inside out. It was great to get a couple of wins at the end of 2015, which kind of started the ball rolling for me. He‰Ûªs been able to build on his programme year-on-year and got stronger year-on-year. I feel like I have a great bike, team and programme now, so I‰Ûªm focused on doing all I can to keep challenging for race wins.‰Û

Josh Strang

2016 US GNCC championship standings
1. Josh Strang (Husqvarna) 60pts;
2. Kailub Russell (KTM) 46pts;
3. Daniel Milner (Yamaha) 37pts;
4. Trevor Bollinger (Honda) 33pts;
5. Ryan Sipes (Husqvarna) 30pts;
6. Steward Baylor (KTM) 29pts;
7. Chris Bach (Honda) 25pts;
8. Grant Baylor (Yamaha) 24pts;
9. Jesse Groemm (Beta) 20pts;
10. Ricky Russell (Suzuki) 20pts