On The Pegs June 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 6 | Page 127

On The Pegs
Vol. 3 Issue 3 - June 2018
P 127
“This was a long time coming, and that’s what makes it spe-
cial,” Josh Strang said from the podium after winning his first
sprint enduro in two years.
To be exact, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory rider
last won a round of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro series on
August 16, 2016, at the Rockcrusher Sprint Enduro in Young
Harris, Georgia. However, the Aussie off-road star ended that
long dry spell by taking the overall victory at this weekend’s
Lake Sugar Tree Sprint Enduro – round three of the Kenda
Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series at Lake Sugar Tree Raceway near
Axton, Virginia.
Not long after his 2016 victory, Strang suffered a foot injury
during ISDE competition, which was a major setback for him.
For just over a year now, Strang has worked hard to regained
the speed that once carried him to the 2010 GNCC title.
“I feel like I’ve been getting a little faster with each race, but
I got off on the wrong foot this weekend and I wasn’t sure I
could recover,” said Strang. “I crashed in the first test on Sat-
urday and lost a lot of time, so I was riding from behind right
from the get-go. I just kept grinding away at it and I was able
to make up some time and finish second for the day.”
On Sunday, Strang was consitently in the top three through-
out the six tests and he won test five outright – a Cross test,
which ruined Ryan Sipes’ undefeated status in 2018 Cross tests.
After 12 tests and two days of racing, Strang took the overall
win by 17 seconds over Layne Micheal. After the race, Strang
revealed that he has changed a few things with his technique.
“I’ve been working on a few things since the last race,” said
Strang. “One of them was not using my rear brake as much. At
the last race I think I needed five sets of rear brake pads and
a complete brake line, and this weekend I didn’t even change
pads. So I’m trying to stay off the brakes as much as I can and I
think that made a big difference.”
With the win, Strang moved ahead of Grant Baylor and into
third overall in the series standings.
Relentless rain on the days leading up to the race, and dur-
ing Saturday’s event, left the Lake Sugar Tree course in less
than desirable condition. However, the Full Gas track crew did
a fantastic job of prepping the course and by the end of the
weekend, and after the sun came out on Sunday, most of the
riders agreed that the course was epic.
Layne Michael struggled with the muddy conditions on