TEAM FMF MAKITA SUZUKI’S Josh Strang Scores His First 2011 Victory And Takes Over Points Lead At The Steele Creek GNCC

MORGANTON, NC (March 28, 2011) -
FMF/Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang took his first win in the 2011
Grand National Cross Country Series by beating everyone to the finish
on his Suzuki RM-Z450 at the Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, North
Carolina in round three of the series on Sunday. Even after a minor
fall, Strang put himself in position to win and took advantage of a
late race mistake by Charlie Mullins to take his first win of this
season.

On the final lap of the race, Strang
put his FMF/Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 on the rear tire of Mullins and
pushed for an opening. Then, in the final turn of the race, as the
two riders entered the corner before the checkered flag, Mullins slid
out and went down, while Strang stayed upright for the win.

“I got pretty lucky there when
Charlie went down,” said Strang. “It was unfortunate for him, but
I’ll take the win for sure. I went down myself on the last lap so I
had to ride hard to catch him. When I caught him, I had to try to get
by him as quick as I could because we were close to the finish. I
tried to go inside him in a corner and after that I was ready to
settle for second, but then he went down. I was shocked and a little
bit relieved.”

“My FMF/Makita Suzuki worked really
well today; the best it’s worked all year,” added Strang. “I
really wanted to get the win today and I was pushing it at the end.”

With the win, Strang, the defending
GNCC XC-1 Champion, takes over the series points lead, holding a
three-point margin over Mullins with three rounds in the book.

The 2011 FMF Makita Suzuki team’s
next event is Sunday, April 10th, in Union, South Carolina, for round
four of the AMA Grand National Cross Country Series. For more
information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow team updates on
SuzukiScoopFans on facebook and SuzukiScoop on twitter.

Steele Creek GNCC XC1 Class Results:

1. Josh Strang

2. Charlie Mullins

3. Corey Buttrick

4. Kailub Russell

5. Paul Whibley

6. Simo Kirsii

7. Jimmy Jarrett

8. Russell Bobbitt

9. Nathan Kanney

10. Mike Lafferty

2011 GNCC XC-1 Class Standings:

1. Josh Strang – 73

2. Charlie Mullins – 70

3. Paul Whibley – 58

4. Corey Buttrick – 54

5. Nathan Kanney – 44

6. Garrett Edminsten – 37

7. Christopher Bach – 35

8. Mike Lafferty – 35

9. Kailub Russell – 32

10. Jimmy Jarrett – 31

About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor
Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American
Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets
motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49
states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in
Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of
motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded
in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191
countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com.
Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for exclusive team content
www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans.

About Makita: Makita is a
worldwide manufacturer of industrial quality power tools and offers a
wide range of industrial accessories. Makita applies leading-edge
technology and innovation to engineer tools that are more compact
with less weight yet deliver industrial strength power and results.
Makita innovation includes Makita LXT®, the industry’s first 18V
lithium-ion cordless lineup. The Makita Teal color is the trade
dress of Makita Corporation and is protected under common law and
registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Makita is Best
in Class Engineering. For more information visit www.makitatools.com.

Team FMF Makita Suzuki is grateful
for the support of their sponsors: FMF, Makita Industrial Power
Tools, Dunlop, Maxima, Renthal, Motion Pro, DP Brakes, Acerbis,
ProFilter, Trek, Hinson Clutch Components, RG3, Zip Ty, CTI, IMS, La
Piparosa, DID Dirt Star, Works Connection, Pro X, Tokyo Mods, T.M.
Designworks, TCR Hubs, Matrix Concepts, CV4, GPR Stabilizers, Posey,
N-Style and GoPro.