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PARDON STEVE Scheuring if he's feeling pretty confident heading into the 2009-'10 snocross season. His Team Scheuring Speed Sports is fielding two strong riders in veteran and former champion Robbie Malinoski and young gun, Andrew Johnstad, a Semi Pro Open and Semi Pro Stock champion.
"I have two hungry drivers and I think that's worth at least 5 horsepower," he says with a broad grin. And bringing a proven winner like Malinoski into the team helps in a number of ways.
"Robbie already has brought the sled to a whole new level and Robbie will mentor Andrew, who we know has the raw skills," Scheuring says. "This is rejuvenating us and our sponsors. The team is excited."
Scheuring was so pumped when we met in September, that he said he wished the season opener at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, was the next weekend.
"We know we have the sled and now we have all the missing links completed," he gushed. His team has been aboard Polaris sleds since 2002 and the past few years its 600cc race sled has been the hot ticket, winning Pro Open and Pro Super Stock multiple times.
But Scheuring believes it's the work ethic of his team that will return it to the ISOC podium this season. His four mechanics have been together for many years and they are into performance, not egos. No one is too good for a job, Scheuring notes, adding that he helps drive the team's rig. Plus there are volunteers and some part-timers that help out in season and as needed.
"We're kind of an old school race team. Our mechanics want to win races. They want to beat everyone and are not out there to be rock stars," he adds.
One thing he's sure of, Cat's Tucker Hibbert is the man to beat.
"We think we can run with him. You can't let others bully you. So much of this game is mental, you just gotta know you can win," Scheuring says.
Johnstad certainly seems ready, talking with us he warned with a smile, "Tucker better watch out this year."
Confidence? Yes, and rock stars or not, Team Scheuring will be seeing its fair share of bright lights and screaming fans once the season starts.