Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang scores the opening round win at the Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang drew first blood by taking the XC1 and overall win when the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) presented by Maxxis, kicked off its 42nd year of racing with the season opener, the Wild Boar GNCC, at the Rodman Planation in Palatka, Florida, March 6.
FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Factory Kailub Russell pulled a big lead over the rest of the XC1 Pro class at the start of the race, but then the reigning series champion crashed, taking down Coastal Racing/Rockstar/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes and Westfield Powersports KTM/Moose Racing’s Jordan Ashburn with him. Strang was able to capitalize on Russell’s mistake and move into the lead.
JCR Honda/Lucas Oil/Maxxis/FLY Racing’s Chris Bach ran right with Strang for the first half of the race, and the two riders swapped the lead numerous times. Strang was eventually able to get clear of Bach and cross the finish line with a 30 second gap over second place.
“The last half of the 2015 season was good to me,” Strang said. “I didn’t spend any time pre-season training in Florida, so I just wanted to come down here and do well and try to win if the opportunity was there. Today I felt like I was riding pretty well and it was good to get a win.”
Bach would actually end up fourth as Russell was able to make up major time after falling to 11th place. Russell made his way to third before engaging in a battle with N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Daniel Milner. Milner held off the three-time National Champion for second place by the narrowest of margins, beating to the line by two thousandths of a second. Behind Bach, Sipes would worked his way through the pack to finish fifth, ahead of N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor, Tyler Medaglia in seventh, Ashburn and KTM/SRT’s Steward Baylor.
JCR/Honda’s Trevor Bollinger won the XC2 Pro Lites division. Bollinger outran Beta USA’s Tegan Temple and Coastal Racing/Husqvarna/MSR’s Craig Delong, the latter scoring a little extra cash courtesy of Hot Cams for his $100 XC2 Pro Lites Holeshot Award.
“I was able to go out to the JCR headquarters in California and test this winter in addition to coming to Florida,” Bollinger said. “I’ve never really came south to train and I really think this was an advantage.”
The 2016 AMSOIL GNCC Series resumes next weekend, March 12 and 13, at the brand-new Maxxis Cannonball GNCC in Sparta, Georgia.
2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC
Rodman Planation
Palatka, Florida
Results: March 6, 2013 (Round 1 of 13)
XC1
1. Josh Strang-Hus
2. Daniel Milner-Yam
3. Kailub Russell-KTM
4. Chris Bach-Hon
5. Ryan Sipes-Hus
6. Grant Baylor-Yam
7. Tyler Medaglia-Hus
8. Jordan Ashburn-KTM
9. Trevor Bollinger-Hon
10. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series Overall National Championship Standings (after 2 of 13 rounds)*
1. Josh Strang-30/1 win
2. Daniel Milner-25
3. Kailub Russell-21
4. Chris Bach-18
5. Ryan Sipes-16
6. Grant Baylor-15
7. Tyler Medaglia-14
8. Jordan Ashburn-13
9. Trevor Bollinger-12
10. Steward Baylor Jr.-11
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion.
XC2
1. Trevor Bollinger-Hon
2. Tegan Temple-Bet
3. Craig Delong-Hus
4. Jesse Groemm-Bet
5. Zack Hayes-KTM
6. Josh Toth-KTM
7. Ben Kelley-KTM
8. Mark Heresco Jr.-KTM
9. Jason Klammer-KTM
10. Trevor Barrett-Hus
2016 XC2 GNCC Class Points Standings (after 1 of 13 rounds)
1. Trevor Bollinger-30/1 win
2. Tegan Temple-25
3. Craig Delong-21
4. Jesse Groemm-18
5. Zack Hayes-16
6. Josh Toth-15
7. Ben Kelley-14
8. Mark Heresco Jr.-13
9. Jason Klammer-12
10. Trevor Barrett-11
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