After 6 weeks off since the CSRA season opener, the Supertrax / Byers Motorsports Team hit the road for Round 2 of the CSRA Nationals in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec.

While most of Ontario is seeing a shortage of snow so far this winter, Rouyn-Noranda had plenty on the ground and a large base of snow to build one of the CSRA’s larger race tracks.

Heading North into Quebec, we knew it was going to be a cold weekend. Both mornings we woke up -28*C to -35*C Temperatures but the sun came out and temperature warmed up for the afternoon Main Events.

Saturdays racing saw Jamie Byers put on a great show in the Pro-Lite Stock class. In Moto 1, Jamie didn’t get the greatest start and had to dig in and ride hard.

Coming out of the holeshot corner, Jamie was back in 6th. By the end of the first lap, he made his way up to 2nd picking a great line through the two rhythm sections but the leader had started to check out and Jamie settled for 2nd.

In Moto 2, Jamie was second coming out of the Holeshot corner, ducked to the hard inside of the big sweeping corner to take the lead which he held on to for the win.

With a 2nd and 1st in the Qualifiers, Jamie was Top Qualifier and lined up to the far inside for the start. When the green flag dropped, he grabbed the throttle and launched his Polaris IQ to the front for the Holeshot.

From there it was clear vision and he started to check out from the rest of the pack but he was not alone. #511 McPhail was hot on his tail but Jamie picked fast lines and held McPhail off for his first Pro-Lite win this season.

“Everything came together, the Polaris IQ’s suspension worked great through the rough sections and the hard work has payed off!” Jamie said pumped after the race.

Jamie was ready to rip the Open class on Sunday after the stock win on Saturday. In Moto 1, his mod sled launched off the start line and grabbed the holeshot.

Jamie led for 2 laps before getting passed by fellow Polaris racer #381 Dennis finishing 2nd. In Moto 2, Jamie got a great start but was pushed wide and lost many spots through the “S-bend” start coming out 5th.

Jamie charged hard getting himself in 3rd, going for 2nd, before having a mechanical failure going through the top rhythm section and having a nasty crash.

The sled got towed off the track and Rob (mechanic/dad) and Jamie got the sled back into shape and running again before the final. Qualifying 11th, Jamie started inside back-row for the final.

At a disadvantage with the tight start section, he was 9th coming around on the first lap. He rode smart and made good line choices to come across in 6th at the checkered.

“I feel that we could have had a Top 3 run in the Open final if I had a front row start to get upfront right away but that’s racing. I have to thank Rob for all his help, hard work and tuning once again this weekend.” Jamie said after the weekend. “We had a good weekend overall and look forward to our next race.”

Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ross Erdman scored a landmark Pro Open class win aboard his four-stroke FX Nytro in the USCC Pine Lake 100 in Gonvick, Minnesota, on Sunday, Jan. 15.

Not only was Erdman’s victory against a field of rival two-strokes, but it will also go down in history as the FX Nytro’s first-ever USCC pro race win.

Also aboard an FX Nytro, teammate Ben Lindom fought to an unofficial second place in the Semi Pro 600 class, while Erdman likewise ran a strong second in Pro 600 before retiring with a minor mechanical issue just two laps from the finish.

Other FX Nytro racers flying the Yamaha flag were Nathan Titus in Pro 600 and Pro Vet, and Jake Jorgensen in Semi Pro Improved. Unfortunately at press time, official timing and scoring challenges prevented a complete tally of these results.

With little snowfall in the Midwest so far this winter, the USCC postponed its first two cross-country races of the season, and instead quickly created the Pine Lake 100.

Instead of the typical cross-country course, the Pine Lake 100 featured a lengthy 10.2-mile track laid out entirely on the frozen lake. With numerous sweeping turns and long straightaways marked with small orange and black signs, racers needed keen eyesight in the sometimes-blinding snow dust to even follow the course – especially at speeds averaging nearly 80 mph.

Adding to the drama was that officials didn’t even receive final permission to hold the event until the previous Monday night. Fortunately, it all came together on a beautiful Sunday morning that proved historic for the FX Nytro.

The Pro Open race that Erdman and his FX Nytro dominated utilized a time-trial format, with sleds flagged off at half-minute intervals and then running flat out for two laps each.

With such a format, it’s impossible to know how you’re doing against other drivers and so the winning strategy was simply to run hard and fast for the entire race distance of 20.4 miles.

Starting about two-thirds of the way down the 17-rider field, Erdman did just that. A previous winner of the grueling three-day USCC Red Lake 500, Erdman owned not only the aggressiveness and focus needed on Pine Lake, but with the FX Nytro’s stupendous four-stroke power, he also had the performance.

Racer after racer accelerated onto the course, wringing everything possible from both muscles and sleds, and when the final run had been made, Erdman commanded the race and the podium.

“The whole team worked really hard to get this win,” Erdman said afterwards. “All of the machine prep, the fitness regimen and testing showed not just in my results but the rest of the team’s results as well. I’m really happy and looking forward to more wins this season.” Yamaha’s Eric Josephsen added, “I am really impressed with this team because the race got thrown together at the last second. With little testing time on the ice, the guys still did really well, and to come away with a first and hopefully a second – I’m just over the moon!”

Just two weeks after setting the world record for motorsports distance jumping, Polaris snocross racer and freestyle rider Levi LaVallee (Team LaVallee) sustained injuries in a practice incident that will prevent him from competing in the 2012 Winter X Games and will put his racing season on hold.

His Team LaVallee freestyle teammate, Daniel Bodin of Sweden, was injured in a separate practice incident and will also miss the Winter X Games one year after winning two gold medals at the event.

“We were sad to receive word of Levi’s and Daniel’s injuries, but we’re relieved and excited to know both are expected to make full recoveries,” said Mike Jonikas, Polaris VP Snowmobiles, Sales & Marketing. “On behalf of everyone associated with Polaris, I pass along our best wishes to Levi and Daniel, their families and their team.”

A Team LaVallee spokesperson reported LaVallee broke his left tibia in a practice accident while Bodin “suffered fractured vertebra but did not sustain any spinal cord damage and has full movement. Both athletes anticipate a full recovery.”

“I’m super bummed about Daniel and I getting hurt,” said LaVallee. “I was riding on a high after my record distance jump on New Year’s Eve and was pumped for Winter X. And Daniel was working hard to defend his gold medals from last year. I love our sport but it can be cruel sometimes. We will both be back as soon as possible and want to thank our sponsors for their support during this time.”

One of the most popular athletes in Winter X games history, LaVallee will miss his second straight X Games. He sustained several serious injuries in December 2010 while practicing for an attempt at breaking the snowmobile distance jump record. He recovered from those injuries and on Dec. 31, 2011, successfully completed the record jump in San Diego.

In fact, his jump of 412 feet, 6 inches, on a Polaris IQ Race Sled is regarded as world record for all motorsports categories, as it surpassed the record jump distances for ATVs, cars and motorcycles. Robbie Maddison jumped on a motocross bike alongside LaVallee at the event and sailed 378′, 9″.

LaVallee has won four gold medals and seven total medals in eight X Games, and in 2008, when he won two golds, he was named “Athlete of Winter X.” At the 2009 games, he attempted a historic double back flip on a snowmobile in the Snowmobile Next Trick competition.

He completed the revolutions but couldn’t stay on the sled when it landed. It remains the only time any rider has attempted a double back flip in competition. He won gold in Snowmobile Knock Out in 2009, and has also won gold in Snowmobile Speed & Style (2008), Freestyle (2008) and Hillcross (2004).

The 2008-2009 Pro Stock points champion on the ISOC snocross circuit, LaVallee was scheduled to compete in freestyle and in best trick at the 2012 X Games.

Bodin, who is from Malung, Sweden, won gold medals in Snowmobile Best Trick and Snowmobile Freestyle at the 2011 Winter X Games. He has competed in five Winter X Games and also won the silver medal in Snowmobile Best Trick in 2010. In addition to his snowmobile freestyle accomplishments, he is also a leading motorcycle freestyler.

Not only did FOX athletes fill the top steps of Pro-Open and Pro-Lite podiums at the International Series Of Champions (ISOC) National Snocross this past January 6–7, they did it in front of the biggest crowd the storied venue has ever seen.

Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN, has played host to snowmobile racing events for over a decade and a half, but the facility saw record attendance for Saturday night’s racing and more than 15,000 total fans on the weekend.

In addition to the racing, one of the main attractions outside the facility was the FOX booth, which featured Levi LaVallee’s record-setting snowmobile. LaVallee jumped a whopping 412-feet this past New Year’s Eve.

The Canterbury track is traditionally one of the toughest on the schedule and this year’s was no exception. It featured two triple jumps and a challenging mogul section. Warm temperatures meant wet, sticky snow, but after dark it began to set up making suspension changes critical to success.

During Friday night’s Pro Open racing, FOX athletes took seven of the Top 10 finishing spots including two podium spots – Robbie Malinoski finished second and Pro Open points leader Ross Martin took third. Kody Kamm swept his heats on the way to the win in the Pro Lite class.

Saturday night, Tucker Hibbert and Malinoski battled back and forth the entire 22-lap race. Hibbert edged Malinoski for the win and the pair claimed the top two steps of the podium in front of the record-sized crowd. Kamm, who has been a juggernaut in the Pro Lite class, won all his heats and the final again on Saturday making it a clean sweep on the weekend.

“The mix of giant triple jumps and sharp moguls sections posed a real challenge,” said Rick Strobel, Snowmobile Race Manager at FOX. “We worked hard with the teams on setups and were able to come up with a winning formula for the weekend that put FOX athletes on top of the box.”

The next ISOC National snocross event takes place February 3-4 at Finger Lakes Casino and Race Track in Farmington, New York.

The Pink Ribbon Riders is a grass roots non profit organization that toured to Grand Rapids Minneosta this past weekend at the Sugar Lake Lodge hosting the 6th Annual Minnesota Snow Run.

The Snow Run is a two day event open to both men and women that incorporates a Friday night welcome party, silent and live auctions, live music food and on Saturday an optional snowmobile ride.
 
The Minnesota Snow Run event raises funds that are distributed to men and women residents of Minnesota that are diagnosed with breast cancer in $500.00 increments to help off set medical bills, gas costs to treatment and any other expenses while they battle the disease. 

The Minnesota Snow Run raised $49,000 + and still counting. The top fundraiser was Jack Schuster from Mound, Minnesota raising $4,525. 170 participants and supporters came out for the great food, auctions and more to support the Pink Ribbon Riders mission.  

Fun activities such as tire golf, broom ball and tricycle racing were done in replace of snowmobiling this year.  

The event never cancels even if the activity part of the event which is snowmobiling can not be done as the Pink Ribbon Riders commented, “Cancer does not care what the weather is, neither should we.”  

The Snow Run event is the organization’s main fundraiser for each states financial assistance program and in many states like North Dakota this coming weekend, it’s the only event that funds the year of patients that will apply.

The Pink Ribbon Riders 2012 Snow Run Tour takes off this coming weekend to the 3rd North Dakota Snow Run and will make stops in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the newest state added of Colorado. 

All funds are distributed in the states in which the Pink Ribbon Riders organization has a snow run event. This was set up this way so that not only can local financial assistance be given where the event is held, but regionally and statewide the residents of that state are diagnosed are supported.

The Snow Run event is unique as patient(s) from the local area are invited to attend the event and are presented with the $500.00 PRR Assistance Program gift. This year Jolene Oviatt from the town of Bovey was chosen to receive the $500.00 gift along with 3 other patients from the area of Minnesota.

Founded in 2006, the Pink Ribbon Riders has helped more than 800 people diagnosed with breast cancer in states throughout the country.

The organization provides direct financial support to patients and families struggling to pay for medical bills, groceries, and gas money. Inspired by breast cancer survivors, the Pink Ribbon Riders attend sporting events and organize rides in honor and in memory of loved ones who have battled breast cancer.

Participants of the Snow Run events come from all over the USA and the state in which the Snow Run is held.

To see photos of the event and more information or patient giving, visit www.pinkribbonriders.com

What: 2012 Arctic Cats ready to ride: F1100, XF1100, TZ1, F5, F570 & Bearcat Z1 models

When: Jan 12-15, Jan 19-22, Jan 26-29

Times: 9:00am – 4:00pm each day

Course: Trail ride, approximately 15 miles

Who: Open to general public (see rules below)

Where: Wildlife Refuge and Cabins,101 Wildlife Lane, South Range, MI 49963 (906-482-1001) www.wildliferefugecabins.com

Rules: Must be 21 years of age, Must have a valid driver’s license, Must wear a helmet No alcohol, No passing, Do not exceed the speed limit, Must sign the waiver.

For more details, please contact Tom or Deb at TEST Inc. at 715-358-3929 between 9:00pm – 5:00pm CST.

Upgrade your snowmobile jacket and feel good doing it during the Pure Polaris “Donate for a Discount” Sales Event that runs Jan. 9-Feb. 9, 2012.

Bring your old jacket and bibs into a participating Polaris snowmobile dealership along with a coupon available online and you’ll receive up to $50 off when you purchase new riding gear.

You get new gear at a discount and you help someone in need stay warm this winter.

The “Donate for a Discount” sales event is being held at participating Polaris dealerships in the United States and Canada and runs Jan. 9-Feb. 9, 2012.

Click here to download the coupon you need to receive a discount when donating.

Donate a used jacket – any brand – and receive a $35 discount on a new Polaris snowmobile jacket. Or donate a jacket and bibs – any brand – and receive a $50 discount on the purchase of a new Polaris jacket/bibs set.

The collected jackets will be distributed to local and regional clothing distribution charities such as regional branches of Goodwill Industries International.

Learn more about Pure Polaris jackets, bibs and other apparel 24/7 at www.purepolaris.com.