FMF Makita Suzuki's Josh Strang has his fist clenched around the XC1 class with a four-race win streak that he will want to capitalize on this weekend, as the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country makes its way to Tennessee for the Acerbis Loretta Lynn GNCC, held in Hurricane Mills, April 24-25.
Josh Strang currently has a 42-point lead separating him from second-place Charles Mullins. With four straight wins, Strang seems unstoppable.
The longest win streak in the XC1 Pro bike class is held by Juha Salminen who won the last six rounds of the 2006 season and the Loretta Lynn GNCC could be where Strang pulls his fifth win in a row, unless one of Strang's many challengers breaks his streak.
Am-Pro Yamaha's Thad DuVall is Strang's newest challenger. DuVall saw his best race in two years at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC, and challenged Strang to the end. DuVall said he hoped that would be the start of more wins. The young rider has plenty of speed, but hasn't been able to stay consistent the entire race, either by crashing, or with mechanical issues.
Obermeyer Yamaha's Charlie Mullins and Defending Champion Paul Whibley are also waiting for their first wins of the season. While Mullins has consistently placed in top positions, Whibley has had a few struggles. But at Big Buck, it looked as though the Am-Pro rider was starting to put it together, and could contend for the win at the popular Tennessee track this weekend.
Privateer Chris Bach, who currently sits fourth in points, is also campaigning for another podium spot as well as FMF KTM's Cory Buttrick and Husqvarna's Glenn Kearney. FMF KTM rider Nathan Kanney, Am-Pro Yamaha's Barry Hawk Jr.,
Thad DuVall got his first podium of the 2010 GNCC season at Big Buck. While he struggles with consistency, he will continue to apply pressure against Strang in future races, and maybe even put an end to his winning streak.
and Kawasaki-mounted Kenny Gilbert have also clocked in at the top 10 and will be in contention in the XC1 pack.
In the XC2 class, FMF KTM's Kailub Russell has been able to take up where Jason Thomas left off after round one, embarking on his own win streak, with three wins this season thus far. While Thomas succumbed to the elements in South Carolina to land in fourth, fellow KTM rider Steward Baylor Jr., was able to become the youngest rider to land on the XC2 podium, along with still hard-charging Jesse Robinson. GEICO/JG Off Road/ Monster Energy Kawasaki's Scott Watkins will also be on the lookout for a win, as he took the winning spot there last year.
