FMF Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang has taken victory in the Snowshoe GNCC over the weekend, the event which is widely considered America’s toughest race.

Defending GNCC champion Strang claimed the $5000 top prize at this year’s Motosport.com Snowshoe GNCC by taking a narrow victory over WMR Off-road/Clockwork/FMF/Planet Fitness KTM’s Nate Kanney after a race-long battle.

This year’s Snowshoe GNCC was tougher than usual after scattered showers turned the rooted and rocky mountain course into an extremely treacherous one.

And due to the many mud holes and slippery climbs found along the trail, several riders held the lead at one point or another, as one rider would lead only to get stuck or fall and hand the spot over to someone else.

In all, Am Pro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley, FMF/KTM Charlie Mullins, JG Racing/GEICO Powersports Honda’s Rory Mead, Am Pro Yamaha’s Thad DuVall and KTM rider Stu Baylor, along with Strang and Kanney, all held the lead somewhere during the three-hour race.

Heading into the fifth and final lap, the lead group consisted of Baylor, Mullins, Strang, and Kanney, however, Mullins and Baylor got stuck part way into the lap, leaving Kanney with the lead and Strang in second.

Near the end of the final lap, Strang got by Kanney in a mud hole and managed to stay out of trouble for the rest of the race. At the finish, Strang edged Kanney by just two seconds to take the win.

“I was just hoping to finish up front and I was happy to follow Nate, he’s had some good rides here the last few years,” said Strang.

“If I could have followed him over the line I would have been happy, so to get in front of him there at the end and get the win was fantastic.”

With the win, Strang extended his lead in the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series to 11 points over Mullins, who ended the day in third.