Josh Strang grabbed a big win at this weekend's Lake Sugar Tree Sprint Enduro in Axton, Virginia. It was his first win in the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series since August 15, 2016. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider edged KR4 Husqvarna's Layne Michael by 17 seconds to claim the "W," while Rockstar/Leatt/Maxxis Husqvarna's Ryan Sipes finished third.
Braxton McGee won the Pro 2 division, ahead of Cole Mattison and Billy Schlag. Meanwhile, Tayla Jones topped the Women’s Pro class ahead of Mackenzie Tricker and Brooke Cosner.
After the race, Josh Strang said he had been working on staying off the rear brake. It seems to have worked as he claimed his first win in the series in almost two years. Strang said he went through five sets of rear brake pads at the last race at Harleywood, plus he changed out a rear brake line. At Lake Sugar Tree, he didn’t even change pads. Shan Moore Braxton McGee claimed his first-ever win in the Pro 2 division. The North Carolinian seems to be riding a steep curve. His first-ever podium came at the previous race in Harleywood. Shan Moore Evan Smith topped the Pro class standings on Saturday. However, the SRT Racing Husqvarna rider threw a chain in test four on Sunday, which took him out of the running for the overall win. Shan Moore Jordan Ashburn obviously liked the muddy conditions on Saturday judging from the fact that he won the opening test of the weekend. The Beta USA-backed Pennsylvania rider finished the weekend in fifth overall. Shan Moore Rockstar/Leatt/Maxxis Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes won five of the six Cross tests over the weekend. Sipes had won every Cross test of the season up until this weekend. His third in the final Cross test of the weekend thwarted his attempt to win every Cross test of the year. Shan Moore KR4 Husqvarna’s Layne Michael won two of the Enduro tests en route to second overall. Shan Moore Liam Draper launches his Husqvarna down the ultra-fast downhill on Saturday. The KR4-backed rider finished sixth in the Pro 2 class. Shan Moore Grant Baylor was in contention for the overall win after Saturday, but several crashes relegated the Tely Racing KTM rider to fourth overall. Shan Moore Beta USA’s Mike Witkowski claimed his best finish of the season in seventh. Shan Moore Steward Baylor had an off weekend and finished fifth. Shan Moore 2018 Virginia Sprint Enduro Results
Position
Rider
Brand
1
Josh Strang
Husqvarna
2
Layne Michael
Husqvarna
3
Ryan Sipes
Husqvarna
4
Grant Baylor
KTM
5
Jordan Ashburn
Beta
6
Steward Baylor
KTM
7
Mike Witkowski
Beta
8
Mario Testa
KTM
9
Evan Smith
Husqvarna
10
James Justice
KTM
2018 Pro Class Championship Point Standings
Position
Rider
Brand
Points
1
Ryan Sipes
Husqvarna
141
2
Josh Strang
Husqvarna
134 |
3
Steward Baylor
KTM
128
4
Layne Michael
Husqvarna
112
5
Grant Baylor
KTM
111
6
Jordan Ashburn
Beta
106
7
Evan Smith
Husqvarna
100
8
Mike Witkowski
Beta
79
9
Mario Testa
KTM
25
10
Russell Bobbitt
KTM
24