For the first time in several years, there is no true favorite on the northeastern regional snocross scene as a new season draws near.
When it was announced last summer that 2011 ECS Pro champion Mathieu Morin had signed with BOSS Racing for an assault on the ISOC national title, racers across New York and New England let out a sigh of relief, just as they did one year earlier when 2010 champion Bobby LePage headed back west to ride for Levi LaVallee.
Morin’s move back to the national stage swings the door wide open for a new star atop the podium, with a fine mix of talented veterans and fresh faces ready to step into the spotlight.
Last season, Morin claimed 13 of 17 Pro finals en route to the class titles. This season, many feel former champion and longtime veteran Danny Poirier could regain his spot on top of the podium. With his years of experience, finely-honed skills and race-proven sleds (Polaris), the famed "Canadian Blast" may set the gold standard in performance this winter.
Another snocross veteran with years of top-level experience is Minnesota native Matt Piche. Piche is known affectionately as "The Bull Rider" for his skills muscling a 400-pound sled around the track. Piche, along with Christian Salemark of Sweden, will pilot the all-new Arctic Cat sleds for Green Mountain Racing in 2011-12, giving the Cat faithful here in the northeast an exciting team to follow. Piche and Salemark both have national experience and ample skills to reach the podium.
Another Cat rider fans should watch is sophomore campaigner Corin Todd, of Otego, New York. Todd won a Pro Stock final during his rookie season and finished third in points. Now part of Vermont-based Camara Racing for 2011-12, Todd has his sights set squarely on consistent finishes that could propel him on to the 2012 Pro crown. Once he, Piche and Salemark get their new Cats dialed in, battles up front between manufacturers should get pretty competitive.
A pair of top-notch organizations are leading the Ski-doo contingent this season. Ingles Performance, of Phoenix, N.Y., will feature regional veterans Michael George and Chris Ackerman as they compete for Rookie of the Year honors in the Pro division. Also piloting the new MX Zx 600 RS this winter will be Quebec veteran Renaud Alexandre, riding for Damexco Racing. Unfortunately, Alexandre suffered a dislocated hip in Duluth and will be out until the injury is healed. The entire staff at ECS wishes him a speedy recovery.
A familiar name is headed east to compete this season. His older brother is a former national champion, and he’s got great skills of his own. Dylan Martin will lead Team Southside this season on the newly-refined 600 IQ race sled, and while he may not have rookie status, Martin is a sure bet to contend for wins in ECS competition.
Martin will be joined at Team Southside by Jacob Muller, the Minnesota native that won the Semi-Pro (now called Pro Lite) championship last winter. It’s a potent combination for the North Adams, Mass.-based team.
With Muller, Ackerman and George all advancing to Pro, the door is also wide open for a new star atop that newly-named Pro Lite Class. Many feel if veteran racer and Quebec native Lucas Brunelle stays consistent, he may be the favorite to claim the titles in both Saturday and Sunday action (Pro Lite riders run qualifying rounds and Finals each day).
Some the other challengers preparing for battle include Jesse James Bonaduce, the gifted New Jersey native back for more in 2011-12. Bonaduce is super-fast and silky-smooth, and could easily be a championship contender. Another veteran to watch is New Yorker Adam Sedlmeier, who has the experience and talent to succeed. Many will put their money on him, and he is without argument a safe bet to land on the podium.
Two young graduates of the Sport division are making the move to Pro Lite this winter. Vermont native Leo Patenaude and Ed Bandel both bring solid skills to the table, and both could turn heads in this division. Their presence will certainly elevate the level of competition.
One rider not to e overlooked is Albany, NY, rider Chris Coleman. This urban dweller looks more and more like a skilled veteran with each outing, having matured a great deal last season. Expect Coleman to challenge the leaders on occasion this coming winter.
ECS is blessed to have great talent throughout all divisions for 2011-12, including the Sport, Junior and Women’s divisions. And the surprising competition within the Trail classes is fun to watch, as those who want to give snocross a try hit the track.
It all kicks off when ECS launches its second season Dec. 10-11 at the beautiful Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke, Vermont.
East Coast Snocross, presented by Woody’s Traction and AMSOIL, is the sanctioning body for snowmobile racing in the northeastern United States. ECS maintains a regional circuit intended to keep grass-roots snocross racing healthy in this part of the snowbelt, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed Pro teams.
For more information, please go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.
