GNCC Racing

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Has Challenging Start to GNCC Season

Monday, March 6, 2017 | 4:05 PM

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S THADDEUS DUVALL AND JOSH STRANG HAVE A CHALLENGING START TO THE GNCC SEASON

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-road team made their way to the first GNCC of 2017 at Big Buck in South Carolina. The course was about 12 miles long with lap times running around the 28-minute mark for top riders. Conditions were really dusty and dry. This caused a lot of vision and passing issues.

Josh Strang takes the holeshot but has to call a stop to his racing due to a previously sustained foot injury.
Josh Strang takes the holeshot but has to call a stop to his racing due to a previously sustained foot injury. Ken Hill

This was the first GNCC for Thad Duvall on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. As the green flag dropped, he jumped off the line and rounded the first turn in about 8th place. He held this position through the woods for the first 3 miles due to low visibility. At the end of lap 1, Duvall was in 4th with the top three in sight. Going into the second lap, he made the pass for 3rd. The leader made some mistakes as Thad worked his way up into 2nd. As he rode through the woods, he collided with a lapped rider, causing visible damage to his FX 350. He made a stop for a wheel change and tried to continue to race but was unable to due to the damage sustained in the collision.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Josh Strang came into this race still nursing a heel injury sustained at the 2016 ISDE. Off the start, Strang took the holeshot and held his lead position for the first few miles. After that, the power for him to grip and turn the bike drastically diminished. He tried to power through the second lap, but was losing spots fast and found himself off pace due to the pain in his foot. He had to call it a day in order not to push it too far. Strang will continue to work on recovering for upcoming rounds.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Thad Duvall has a good run but does not finish due to damage on his FX 350.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Thad Duvall has a good run but does not finish due to damage on his FX 350. Ken Hill

Thad Duvall and Josh Strang make their way to Daytona, FL on March 12th for GNCC Round 2.