Defending Pro snocross champion Elias Ishoel (BOSS Racing) continued his early-season dominance with two wins this past weekend on a rough track in Shakopee, MN, with Lincoln Lemieux taking his first of the year for a Ski-Doo Pro sweep.
Once known as a wild child, Ishoel has successfully matured with the ability to direct his energy where it will produce the best results. Friday night saw Ishoel dash to the front of the pack in the final and not look back, setting a strong but manageable pace.
Daniel Benham (Warnert Racing) kept pace with the leaders and took advantage of some late race fortune to claim the third step on the podium. Lincoln Lemieux (Scheuring Speed Sports) crossed the line in fourth and Aki Pihlaja (BOSS Racing) in fifth.
Saturday, it was Lemieux’s turn on top of the podium. Known for good starts, he took an outside gate pick and converted it into a holeshot—giving him a lead he wouldn’t relinquish and claiming his first victory of the season. After having last year cut short due to injury, Lemieux’s win more than validated his status as a championship contender again this year.
Pihlaja crossed the line in third, with hard charging teammate Ishoel close behind in fourth after an off-track excursion.
Fans in the Minneapolis area were treated to bonus racing on Sunday when the second round of racing originally scheduled for Duluth was made up. A night after missing the podium for just the second time this season, Ishoel took full advantage of the opportunity by claiming his second win on the weekend. After nailing the hole shot, Ishoel never looked back. Pihlaja continued his strong racing crossing the line in fourth, with Benham seventh and Lemieux recovering from an early off to finish eighth.
Ski-Doo Pro class racers currently hold 4 of the top 5 places in the overall points standings after six rounds of racing. Ishoel and Lemieux currently sit first and second, respectively, while Aki Pihlaja sits in fourth, just ahead of Daniel Benham in fifth place.
Patenaude Wins Third Straight In Pro Lite
A rough track and changing snow conditions couldn’t derail the momentum Hunter Patenaude (Scheuring Speed Sports) had built coming into the weekend. He was simply too much for the field all weekend, taking the checkers in all three finals giving him five out of a possible six wins on the season.
“I’m getting great holeshots and great jumps thanks to the guys in the trailer,” Patenaude said.
Indeed, the Vermont native even qualified 1-1 in each round on the weekend planting him firmly atop the Pro Lite overall points standings.
Francis Pelletier (Warnert Racing) is doing his best with the nearly impossible task of keeping pace with Patenaude, and these two look to be on another level. The top two Pro-Lite racers battled all weekend with Pelletier placing second in all three finals while Korbyn Anderson (Anderson Racing) grabbed the 3rd place podium position on Saturday and Sunday for two podium sweeps.
Saturday’s final was a full on Ski-Doo affair in the top five with Sam Blouin (Blouin Racing) in fourth and Camryn Anderson (Anderson Racing) completing the top five sweep.
Brodeur 6-for-6 On Season
Six times Megan Brodeur has lined up in the Pro Women’s main event this season. Six times she’s come away victorious in dominating fashion. The Quebec native has yet to be stopped this season, and the three-time defending champion is looking stronger than ever.
Alissah Ashline continued her strong riding with a fourth on Saturday and another top-five for Sunday’s make-up round.
Makenna Kleiman also had a great race finishing 3rd on Friday.
Sport and Youth Wins
Jordan Lebel continued his stellar early-season riding capturing Sport class wins both Friday and Saturday. He currently sits atop in the Sport overall season points standings as he continues to show maturity and consistency in his first year in the class.
Joining Lebel on the Sport podium Saturday was Minnesota’s Drew Freeland (Freeland Racing) making his breakthrough and getting the 3rd spot on the box. The young racer is getting more comfortable on the 600 RS and continues to progress.
Emeric Legendre added two wins to his season total on Saturday in Jr 16-17 and Jr 14-15 classes. Naeli Lebel captured the win in Saturday’s Jr Girls 9-13 class.