Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Wins Talladega GNCC

Korie Steede claims first victory of 2026 season, teammate Craig DeLong finishes sixth in XC1 Open Pro Class

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Korie Steede won the Talladega GNCC, the third round of the 2026 Grand National Cross Country Series. Steede powered her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to victory, recording a total time of 1:48.51s. Teammate Craig DeLong finished sixth in the XC1 Open Pro Class and seventh overall after making progress through the field.

Why it matters

The GNCC series is one of the most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing championships in the United States. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's success at Talladega demonstrates their competitiveness in both the WXC and XC1 Open Pro classes, as they aim to contend for championships in 2026.

The details

Steede entered the Talladega GNCC targeting the top step of the podium and delivered a convincing victory, leading from the front throughout the race. DeLong made progress after a difficult start, climbing towards the podium positions before fading slightly in the closing stages.

  • The Talladega GNCC took place on March 9, 2026.
  • Steede's victory was her first of the 2026 GNCC season.

The players

Korie Steede

The defending WXC Champion, riding for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.

Craig DeLong

A former GNCC Champion, also riding for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

The factory racing team for Husqvarna Motorcycles, supported by Rockstar Energy Drink.

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What they’re saying

“It was a really good race for me and a rewarding one to win this weekend. The conditions were tough, but we kept charging and it paid off! A big thanks to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, I'm looking forward to the next one now.”

— Korie Steede (totalmotorcycle.com)

“Overall, Talladega could've been a little bit better for me. I got a decent start, but made a couple of mistakes on Lap 1 that put me all the way towards the back, which had my work cut out for me. I made good progress on the second lap to climb toward the podium positions, but I expended a bunch of energy to reach that point I burned myself out a little bit. The last lap was a real struggle, but no excuses – I need to finish these races off a little better and not let it slip away near the end.”

— Craig DeLong (totalmotorcycle.com)

What’s next

The Camp Coker Bullet GNCC, the next round of the 2026 Grand National Cross Country Series, is scheduled for the end of March.

The takeaway

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's success at the Talladega GNCC demonstrates their strength in both the WXC and XC1 Open Pro classes, as they look to contend for championships in the highly competitive 2026 GNCC season.