Four-time and defending regional snocross champion Danny Poirier swept both Pro finals over the weekend, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) completed Round six of its nine-race 2015 schedule at The Range in historic North Adams.
Connecticut standout Cody Paolella (Sat.) and Vermont veteran Leo Patenaude (Sun.) notched victories in Pro Lite as racers in all classes faced snow, bitter cold and gusty winds in the Berkshires.
Poirier (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo), of St. Theodore, QC, led all 16 laps on Saturday as a winddriven snow challenged the racers. Swedish invader Johan Dahlgren (Team Southside/Mystik Lubricants/ Polaris) chased Poirier throughout but settled for second, while Patenaude (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo, doing double duty in North Adams) filled out the podium in third.
“Last weekend it felt more like what I usually expect in Valcourt,” Poirier said. “Low visibility, super windy and very cold, which makes it difficult. Yet my Ski-doo ran like a champ once again, and I felt that they made a good effort with the track to create more room to pass. I'm very happy to come away with two wins for this hard-working Ingles team.”
Paolella (Team Southside/Polaris), of Wallingford, held off a hard-charging Patenaude in a grueling 14-lap Pro Lite final Saturday, while Vermont veteran Wade Acker (daSilva Racing/Ski-doo) claimed third.
“Those weather conditions weren't the greatest, with low temps and a stiff wind,” Paolella said. “It was very important to stay warm. With the snow dust affecting visibility, getting a good holeshot was key. I had a great start in my final and led all the way to the checkered flag. I tried to not make any mistakes and stay consistent. We're having quite a season at Team Southside.”
Patenaude, of Hartland, bettered his efforts from Saturday with a strong second place run in Sunday's Pro final, while Dahlgren capped another solid weekend outing in third. Patenaude would go on to claim Sunday's Pro Lite final, with Ingles Teammate Andy Bristol and Joe Bishop in and third, respectively.
“That Pro Lite final was a lot of fun,” Patenaude said. “The track was much better on Sunday. It was tough having to start on the back row, but it just made me push that much harder. I couldn't be any happier with my performance, and I'm happy to earn another win for Ingles and Ski-doo.”
In Sport action over the weekend, Marco Travaglini carried the momentum from the previous weekend in New York and swept the Super Stock finals both days. Nicholas Edwards and Ryan Dupont filled out the podium on Saturday, while Edwards and Dalton Jacquier filled out Sunday's podium.
Other final round winners over the weekend in North Adams include Nykea Williams (Pro Women Sat.); Janell Smith (Pro Women Sun.); longtime snocross veteran and hometown favorite Chad Luczynski (Pro Am, Plus 25 Sat. & Sun.);and Michael Newman (Jr. 14-15 and 16-17 Sat. & Sun.).
East Coast Snocross would like to thank event sponsors Southside Sales and Berkshire County Construction for their support. Officials would also like to thank the vendors and hearty fans who braved harsh winter conditions to watch the races. From the puddles of 2014 to the arctic winds of last weekend, nothing keeps a loyal race fan away from the track.
Next up for ECS Pro, Pro Lite and Sport riders is a trip north to Quebec, Cananda, this coming weekend, Feb. 20-22, for the 33rd annual Ski-doo Grand Prix of Valcourt. This prestigious event kicks off Friday with Finals for the high-stakes 2015 Triple Crown Series. It is the ideal venue to hand out the coveted Marcel Fontaine trophy, named for a man who has done more for sled racing than perhaps any other individual in North America.
