ROUND 7 & 8 Valcourt Quebec, CANADA
If you asked us what our favorite venue on the tour is, we would say Grand Prix Ski-Doo Valcourt is it. We have been coming to Valcourt for 10 years now. You must be asking why right? Our answer is a Santa clause Christmas list long haha! Poutine, atmosphere, Canadian friends, ice oval races, champ 440 mod sleds, sunsets, etc etc. You have to experience this place for yourself.
Let’s get into the weekend. Ice ovals set the stage going into the weekend on Friday with qualifying, SCMX & ISOC Pro classes practice. A name we haven’t heard in a while Leo Patenaude made it on the scene to compete in SCMX Plus 30 holding the big brunt sign on the podium next to Max Taillefer taking the top spot. Jr girls class is dominated by blistering fast Charlie Buteau on the 201 sled, leading points in both series SCMX & ISOC, all eyes are on this young lady. In two years we will witness her pro debut in the national tour.
Shifting gears to ovals were our ears perk up to the sounds of 440 champ sleds! Three athletes we knew would dominate the weekend. Blaine Stephenson, Gunnar Sterne & Reed Klinger talking with each of them we knew this weekend would be a nail biter. Ice was cherry, weather perfect and sleds tuned to run perfect. Only thing standing in the way when do the sleds get told to line up in staging.
Qualifying had its moments broken belts crashes into the hay bales you name it, it happened. Big show Sunday we witnessed three big name hitters have problems not finishing the race and a name we didn’t even blink an eye to all weekend this rider from Quebec after a long hiatus Quebec rider won Valcourt. Danick Lambert set the world on fire bringing home the champion flag to Quebec, you bet ya he partied hard afterwards. Congrats Danick!
Back to ISOC racing we witnessed a feet that we may not see again. Freshman rider Avery Hemmer is not letting go of the red plate and points lead. Setting records, chasing titles and cementing her name. No.15 is on a mission and printing her name on the “Megan Brodeur” Valcourt trophy!. Inanna Hauger saw a lot of adversity with sled rebuilds, starting in the back row on Sunday. No. 331 is one tough rider, if you could take one thing from Hauger she thrives in adversity. European rider Saga Forsell first year racing ISOC full time and first time In Canada Saga rocketed off the start not relinquishing second to no-one. Fantastic ride for team Southside.
Cottew Motorsports are they skipping a beat or what? Cam Cole showed the rest of the competition this title won’t be let go easy, not seeing the podium at Canterbury 2.0. Cole made sure that wouldn't happen again, great starts off the line and holding the gas wide open to the finish 2-1 finished would ignite an even bigger fire for himself and the team. All these athletes race for the love of the sport, Drew Freeland always has a smile on his face when we see him in the pits and he took those good vibes all the way to the podium standing on top spot. Freshman rider Kenny Goike looked impeccable all weekend losing his brakes early Saturday night while still making the podium, another freshman in Pro-Lite Tanner Johnson put in work for his first podium.
Premiere class to cap the weekend. One question we are wondering where is reigning champ Emil Harr, he has a few podiums but the consistency isn’t there is the injury still bugging him? There is a new sheriff in town Jordan Lebel is in full control with a 29 point gap over second. 3rd year in the class Jordan has been putting in the time to get to this point, holding the red plates early last year to passing it back to Harr later in the year to now holding a good point gap over the field. Hard work, determination, grit this got him to this point. Warnert Racing has not won a championship in sometime either this would be a relief for the team. Fellow Canadian following suit Crayden Dillon rookie in the class made it loud an clear these boys are fast and he needs to find more speed, second both days is still a phenomenal ride, crowd at the podium was cheering loud. Two different boot patterns would be left on sunday. Daniel Benham would put Arctic Cat on the box still keeping championship hopes alive Saturday night. Elite Motorsports Theo Poirier man did he look good Sunday throwing fat whips jumping corners like Hibbert vibes were unreal. Bronze was his and he was not denied. Congrats on the ride keep the momentum rolling!
Half way of the season NY is up next, where fans go crazy for Snocross!
