In Shakopee, Minn., the weekend brought many smiles and some sore thumbs. Bobby LePage (Pirtek/Polaris) brought home the Semi-Pro final win on Saturday, in the WPSA PowerSports Snowmobile Tour Air Force Canterbury Snocross. Mathew Piche (Christian Brothers Racing/Arctic Cat) came in second and Cory Davis (Speedwerx/Arctic Cat) followed in third. It was great to see LePage, aka "The Rage," back from the injuries he suffered during the 2004-2005 season.
Ryan Simons (Speedwerx/Arctic Cat) proved his talents too, winning Saturday's Pro Stock final, part of the Air Force Canterbury Snocross. He gained the lead halfway through the race when Ross Martin smoked his drivebelt on his Judnick Motorsports/Polaris. TJ Gulla (Pirtek/Polaris) came in second, and Levi LaVallee (Pirtek/Polaris) brought in third.
Ross Martin overcame his bad luck to win Saturday's Pro Open final. Iain Hayden (Blair Morgan Racing Team/Ski-Doo) finished a strong second, and Ryan Simons came in third.
Levi LaVallee (Pirtek/Polaris) was celebrating Sunday, as he won the Pro Open final for his Hentges Racing Team. The event was Round 9 of the 2006-2007 WPSA PowerSports Snowmobile Tour schedule. He grabbed the holeshot and lead every lap of the final, just ahead of Ross Martin, who finished second with his fourth podium of the season. TJ Gulla came in third.
LaVallee said, "I was the only guy on our team who hadn't won this season." His teammates can no longer call him "the runt of the litter" now.
Iain Hayden was in third but got injured three laps into the final. He was taken to the local hospital for treatment.
Martin now holds a 45-point lead on Ryan Simons in the Pro Stock point standings. Gulla is ahead 19 points of Simons in Pro Open points. Cory Davis won the Semi-Pro final.
Brett Turcotte (Ski-Doo) was fined $250 and docked 15 championship points for his actions during Friday's Semi-Pro Stock race. He was penalized for "unjustifiable risk: rough driving."
For full results of the weekend at Canterbury Park, go to
www.powersportstour.com.
The next race is scheduled for March 16-18th at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis. The Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale represents the 10th and final round of the 2006-2007 season.