Strang Tops the Points Chase Heading into Round Four of GNCC
April 5, 2011, 12:00pm
Morgantown, W. Va. - FMF Makita Suzuki's Josh Strang climbed atop the XC1 championship points standings after capturing the win over FMF KTM's Charlie Mullins in the last turn of a race that Mullins dominated for nearly three hours at Steele Creek.
Round four of the 2011 Can-Am GNCC tour heads to Union, South Carolina this weekend, April 9-10 for the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC where Strang captured his fourth consecutive win in 2010. This year's season is off to a different start, though, as there are currently three different race winners in the first three rounds. Only three points separate the defending champion from Charlie Mullins.
And then there's Am Pro Yamaha's Paul Whibley, who struggled in the opening round finishing back in ninth, only to bounce back at round two with the win. Whibley currently sits twelve points behind Mullins in the championship standings with ten rounds left in the series.
FMF KTM's Cory Buttrick has been progressively finishing better each week, chalking up his season-best third place at Steele Creek. Buttrick is right on pace with the veteran front-runners, only four points behind Paul Whibley in the fourth place position. Another consistent KTM rider is Nate Kanney, who rounds out the top five in points heading into the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC this weekend.
The XC2 division is also heating up as the competition proves to be very deep after only three rounds of racing. Just like the Premier class, the Lites class now has three different winners in the first three rounds.
FAR Husky rider Jason Thomas has been turning heads in the XC2 class, he gapped the field by nearly six minutes at Steele Creek. Thomas now holds a five-point lead over Steward Baylor Jr. Baylor had bike issues forcing him to stop in and change a rear wheel but the round two winner still salvaged a fifth place finish.
Jesse Robinson, who also holds a win this year, had bike problems at Steele Creek, finishing fourteenth on the day but fourth in the series overall. Robinson, who is tied with Andrew DeLong at 58 points sits 18 out of first place.
Spectator tickets run $15 for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.
To get to the track, take I-26 to Exit 44, then to Highway 49 North 7 Miles and look for the signs.
For more information, check out the official series website at GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. Riders compete for more than $3 million in prize money, which draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and airs every week on the Versus Network. For more information, please visit gnccracing.com.
Round four of the 2011 Can-Am GNCC tour heads to Union, South Carolina this weekend, April 9-10 for the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC where Strang captured his fourth consecutive win in 2010. This year's season is off to a different start, though, as there are currently three different race winners in the first three rounds. Only three points separate the defending champion from Charlie Mullins.
And then there's Am Pro Yamaha's Paul Whibley, who struggled in the opening round finishing back in ninth, only to bounce back at round two with the win. Whibley currently sits twelve points behind Mullins in the championship standings with ten rounds left in the series.
FMF KTM's Cory Buttrick has been progressively finishing better each week, chalking up his season-best third place at Steele Creek. Buttrick is right on pace with the veteran front-runners, only four points behind Paul Whibley in the fourth place position. Another consistent KTM rider is Nate Kanney, who rounds out the top five in points heading into the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC this weekend.
The XC2 division is also heating up as the competition proves to be very deep after only three rounds of racing. Just like the Premier class, the Lites class now has three different winners in the first three rounds.
FAR Husky rider Jason Thomas has been turning heads in the XC2 class, he gapped the field by nearly six minutes at Steele Creek. Thomas now holds a five-point lead over Steward Baylor Jr. Baylor had bike issues forcing him to stop in and change a rear wheel but the round two winner still salvaged a fifth place finish.
Jesse Robinson, who also holds a win this year, had bike problems at Steele Creek, finishing fourteenth on the day but fourth in the series overall. Robinson, who is tied with Andrew DeLong at 58 points sits 18 out of first place.
Spectator tickets run $15 for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.
To get to the track, take I-26 to Exit 44, then to Highway 49 North 7 Miles and look for the signs.
For more information, check out the official series website at GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. Riders compete for more than $3 million in prize money, which draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and airs every week on the Versus Network. For more information, please visit gnccracing.com.
