Josh Strang Maintains Points Lead at Snowshoe GNCC

-FMF Makita Suzuki's Josh Strang took sixth at the Snowshoe GNCC in West Virginia.
-Josh's RM-Z450 was donated to the RiderDown foundation after the race, and was raffled off to benefit fallen riders.
-Josh currently holds a 17-point lead as the series breaks for the summer.

Snowshoe, WV – FMF Makita Suzuki's Josh Strang raced his way through the rough West Virginia terrain to a sixth-place finish at the famous Snowshoe GNCC on Sunday. Josh battled the track and the other riders as he worked his way around Snowshoe's extended track, which included some of the toughest obstacles all season. At the finish, the young Australian earned enough points to maintain his lead in the race for the championship, with 17 points now separating him from his closest competition. "It was a tough race for me," said Strang. "My bike handled great, but I just wasn’t used to the heat and humidity."

The track at Snowshoe is infamous for being one of the most challenging in the series, and it didn’t disappoint on Sunday. The 2010 Suzuki RM-Z450 was up to the task however, taking each of the course's varied obstacles in stride thanks to its sharp handling and the snappy throttle response of the fuel-injected engine. With such a wide variety of conditions, tracks like Snowshoe can wreak havoc on both rider and machine, but the RM-Z proved its mettle and carried Josh through to the finish.

The FMF Makita Suzuki team partnered with the RiderDown Foundation at the Snowshoe event to hold a special raffle after the race. Fans were given the opportunity to purchase tickets during the race for a chance at taking home Josh's 2010 RM-Z450. After Josh crossed the finish line, the bike was cleaned up and handed off to a lucky winner. "It was a cool deal," said Strang. "My bike went to a great fan, and it was all for a good cause." The proceeds from the raffle will be used to help fallen riders and their families with medical bills and other costs that can accrue when a rider is injured.

The Snowshoe GNCC was the final race before the series takes a summer break. The tour will resume on September 12th with the race at Unadilla in New Berlin, New York.