Strang Strikes Again at Ohio GNCC

Josh Strang lands his second AMSOIL GNCC win of the year in the ITP Powerline Park GNCC.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang stayed hot even as temperatures ran on the cool side during round 12 of the AMSOIL GNCC Series, and he landed his second GNCC overall win of the season at the ITP Powerline Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio, yesterday.

Temperatures were hovering in the low 40-degree Fahrenheit range as XC1 Pro class came off the line with N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn grabbing the holeshot to collect the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award prize money, only to bobble right after that and lose the lead to AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes as the field funneled into the woods.

Sipes set a quick pace as he led the opening circuit, and he appeared to be in good stead to collect his first career GNCC overall win, but a bad line choice up a hill climb cost Sipes time and allowed Strang to take over the lead. Sipes recovered to run in second place, but a bad wheel bearing forced him to make an unscheduled pit stop, and that would not only cost him the win but also keep off the podium.

Strang, the 2010 GNCC Champion, had a clean day, and he emerged with his second win of the season, which vaulted him to fourth place in the GNCC National Championship points standings.

“It’s always good to race someone until the finish, but it’s also good just to have a gap at the end of the race like today,” Strang said. “After Sipes missed the hill climb I was able to pass him, and I was able to get a gap between us and maintain it.”

After finishing second at the previous round, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor pulled off another another second overall today, earning his fifth podium finish of the season. The South Carolinian battled with JCR Honda’s Chris Bach and Factory Beta Racing’s Cory Buttrick for much of the race, but would ultimately beat both of them, moving himself back into second in the series standings behind Kailub Russell, who already locked up the title.

Jordan Ashburn, Buttrick and Bach ended up scrapping for the final podium spot, with Ashburn landing the position, followed by Bach. Sipes snuck past Buttrick on the last lap to claim fifth.

With XC2 Pro Lites title already in his possession, Jason Thomas added another class win to his list in 2015. Thomas clashed with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4/FAR’s Nick Davis for the first half of the race until Davis dropped out with a cracked piston. Raines Riding University/Atlas Yamaha/OffRoadViking.com’s Ricky Russell took up the slack and finished second, with teammate Austin Lee finishing third.

“Having the championship already locked in took the pressure off of this race,” Thomas said. “I ended up letting Russell by, and then we both crashed together, but it was a fun race against him and Davis.”

N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Becca Sheets took her first ever win in the WXC class with teammate Jessica Patterson finishing second. Triangle Cycles/Raines Racing/PG/FMF/Fly-back Kendall Lafollette grabbed her first career WXC podium spot by finishing third.

2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series
ITP Powerline Park GNCC
St. Clairsville, Ohio
Results: October 18, 2015, (Round 12 of 13)

XC1
1. Josh Strang-Hus
2. Grant Baylor-Yam
3. Jordan Ashburn-Yam
4. Chris Bach-Hon
5. Ryan Sipes-Hus
6. Jason Thomas-KTM
7. Cory Buttrick-Bet
8. Ricky Russell-Yam
9. Austin Lee-Yam
10. Jesse Groemm-Bet

2015 AMSOIL GNCC Overall National Championship Standings (After 12 of 13 rounds)
1. Kailub Russell-283*
2. Grant Baylor-223
3. Thad Duvall-200
4. Josh Strang-196
5. Chris Bach-191
6. Ryan Sipes-170
7. Jordan Ashburn-162
8. Jason Thomas-147
9. Ricky Russell-106
10. Trevor Bollinger-97
*Clinched 2015 AMSOIL GNCC National Championship

XC2
1. Jason Thomas-KTM
2. Ricky Russell-Yam
3. Austin Lee-Yam
4. Jesse Groemm-Bet
5. Tegan Temple-KTM
6. Ryder Lafferty-Hus
7. Scott Grills-Yam
8. Michael Witkowski-KTM
9. Trevor Bollinger-Hon
10. Callan May-Yam

XC2 Class Points Standings (After 12 of 13 rounds)
1. Jason Thomas-307
2. Ricky Russell-215
3. Trevor Bollinger-194
4. Nick Davis-183
5. Craig Delong-175
6. Tegan Temple-146
7. Austin Lee-142
8. Layne Michael-142
9. Cory Buttrick-122
10. Callan May-116