Australia’s Josh Strang was forced out of the season-opening round of the 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series in South Carolina due to the lingering effects of an existing heel injury.

Still recovering from a broken heel sustained at the 2016 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) event, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider made the tough decision to call it a day just half way through the opening lap after claiming the first XC1 Pro holeshot of the season.

“I’m just not fully ready yet with the injury so I called it a day early,” Strang told MotoOnline.com.au. “The injury is not behind schedule, it’s just an injury that takes a long time – really frustrating. The bone is healed so it can’t be re-injured, I guess it’s everything around the injury that is still trying to get better.”

With round two of the 2017 GNCC series coming up this weekend in Florida, the premier class front-runner is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will line up for the 11-12 March event.

“I’m not sure yet, trying to decide if we should race this weekend or if I should sit out until round three,” said Strang. “I’ll make a decision in the next few days.”

Fellow Australian Tayla Jones also grabbed the holeshot in her respective WXC category, although the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KR4 Arive-N-Ride contender was able to finish out the event to capture the round victory.

Behind Jones it was defending champion Becca Sheets aboard her Fly Racing/Maxxis/Seat Concepts/KTM in second position followed up by Australia’s MacKenzie Tricker who rounded out the womens podium in third position.