Round 1 & 2 Ironwood, MI
Welcome back everyone to another year of Amsoil Championship Snocross. What a whirl wind of a weekend filled with crazy wind, lake affect snow and -20 plus temps. Attrition with survival skills came into play heavy. Let’s dive in into Mt. Zion Ironwood, MI
To kick off the season we are going to highlight two classes per weekend. We caught the action of stock 200 & Pro Am Women classes.
Stock 200 saw a bit of a different podium each day & riders swapping positions. Friday Landan Lynse battled the whole field a stacked field at that putting himself in a great spot for the title fight. Number 300 sled of Harrison Skar a vet in the class made quick moves on the very technical track for these sleds to navigate with steep up hills and huge peaks to take silver overall. Third place we would see Tessa Naastad in the bright Klim gear, talk about someone on the gas Tessa sure doesn’t let off the gas. Righty off the podium but always a name to keep in your back pocket would be Deegan Giguere young gun is fast!
Saturday brought similar challenges to these athletes when came to the weather being a carbon copy of Friday. Z17 sled of Tessa Naastad came out swinging moving up her results from Friday leaving nothing left on the track to take gold holding that big Klim necklace up high! Lil Vinnie Diorio pushed his sled as fast as it would go moving up his results from a 7th to 2nd, this kids podium speeches are the best! Keep killing It kid. Not the result Landan Lynse was looking for leaving the weekend, still on the podium keeping that momentum as the next stop of the tour of the Daytona of Snocross. Would a mix of podium, this goes to show you have to get a great start or you won’t be on the box. Harrison Skar would be right off the podium.
We spoke about the pro women’s class on our podcast multiple times being one of classes to watch again. These athletes went full throttle all weekend long, sending the Air Force triple like nobodies business. The buzz all off season leading up to the first weekend was around new prospect Avery Hemmer & Inanna Hauger, prior teammates last the few seasons. Avery Hemmer came out swinging lined up next to Hauger we witnessed these two dicing up, Hauger held her own till Avery got around her winning the heat race in round 2. Come Fridays final Hemmer pulled the hole shot make quick distance from second crossing the checker flag to grab her first career win as a rookie and silencing all the doubts how she would do. Her rival Hauger would fall back to 14th not finishing where she wanted. London Recreational Racing No. 11 sled of Victoria Dillon dialed it in after great heat races securing second place placing herself in a perfect position for title contention. Fan favorite No.42 Ava McCurdy has one mission this season being more consistent, taking bronze opening round is a perfect spot to start the season. One position off the podium would be Warnert Racing No. 518 sled Neali Lebel peaking in from the outside would she figure how to get more speed for Saturday, we think so.
First place, third place and 4th place saw different riders. 2025/2026 season already starting off great in the pro women’s class. 14th place overall rider “Holeshot” Hauger would redeem herself taking the elusive holeshot she is known and running away with the win putting her first overall adding another to her resume, last time we saw No.331 sled on the overall podium was Eagle River last year. Victoria Dillon would take another second itching to grab her first overall in the 2026 will it be at the Daytona of Snocross? Neali Lebel moved up a position swapping her 4th overall for a 3rd now on the inside of the podium, still needing a bit more speed to take her first overall of her career. No.15 sled didn’t make it back on the podium one position away was her overall win a fluke? Nah the speed is right there a better start is needed. Where was Ava McCurdy? back in 8th what step down from her Friday performance. Freshman rider Eleanor Schmidt secured 12th both days, will she move up some positions at Shakopee. We are sure Eleanor will find more speed at the practice track to help this results.
Happy holidays everyone! See everyone in Shakopee!