Malcolm Chartier, winner of the first two Pro Champ 440 finales on Friday and Saturday, saw his streak come to an end when he finished third in Sunday’s 31st running of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX.
The Marine City, Michigan rider fell short in his quest behind two Wisconsin men; race winner Nicholas Van Strydonk of Tomahawk and Ryan Kniskern of Marinette. Kniskern led the first four laps ahead of Van Strydonk until the race was red flagged when three-time Grand Prix of Valcourt winner Dustin Wahl was sidelined on the backstretch. At the restart of the 15-lap affair, Van Strydonk took the lead and was never really challenged. Michael Soucy of Hopkinton, New Hampshire finished fourth behind Chartier and ahead of Travis MacDonald of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Nicholas Van Strydonk won on Sunday his third Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX.
Photo courtesy of Sébastien Desbordes
In the Pro Snocross grand finale, Tim Tremblay of Saint-Jeanne d’Arc, Quebec capped off a perfect weekend with his third triumph in three days, easily winning ahead of ISOC Series teammate and defending Grand Prix champion Robbie Malinoski. Tremblay crossed the finish line 10 seconds ahead his nearest rival at the conclusion of the 14-lap race, to notch his second Grand Prix of Valcourt title in the last three years. CSRA’s Iain Hayden of Holland Center, Ontario scored his first Valcourt Pro Class podium, finishing ahead of New York native Darrin Mees. East Coast Snocross rider Danny Poirier of St. Theodore d’Acton took fifth place.
Tim Tremblay, #11 on the right, won on Sunday his second Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX, ahead of Robbie Malinoski, #11 center. Maxime Taillefer from Laval, QC, finished 10th.
Photo courtesy of Sébastien Desbordes
The first preliminary finals of the day gave the fans, who braved the Valcourt winter cold, plenty to cheer about. On the ice oval track, Michael Hackey of Alstead, New Hampshire scored his first Motorbike win in Valcourt, finishing ahead of a field of 12 Quebec riders, including local favorite Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond who surrendered the lead on the last turn of the nine-lap race.
Back to snowmobile racing, Cole McMichael of Lefroy, Ontario took the win in the Semi-Pro Champ 440 class, edging Michael Soucy of Hopkinton, NH and 17-year old Sabrina Blanchet of Quebec City. In the Pro Formula 500 class, Ontario riders swept the first four spots with the win going to Mike Van Dolder from Annan, followed by Cole McMichael and Paul Sheppard from Mindmoya.
Back to the Circuit Yvon Duhamel snocross track with Jennifer Paré of La Doré, Québec who won the Pro Women class ahead of two Vermont racers: Stephanie Lemieux-Bell of St. Johnsbury and Nykea Williams of Lyndonville. In the other finale, Americans placed seven of their own in the top-8 at the finish with Mike Pilotte of North Adams, MA taking the checkered flag ahead of Jesse James Bonaduce of Somerville, New Jersey. Eric Barton of Holland, Ontario saved the day with a third-place podium finish.
The next Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX will be held February 14-16, 2014
