Snowmobile freestyle competitions planned for AMSOIL Championship Snocross stops this weekend and next month have been canceled out of respect for Caleb Moore, the freestyle snowmobile rider who died last week, the International Series of Champions announced Tuesday.
Snocross races Friday and Saturday in Williamsburg, Mich., near Traverse City, and March 15-16 in Lake Geneva, Wis., will go on as scheduled, said officials at ISOC, the organization that sanctions the national AMSOIL Championship Snocross series.
"We’re absolutely devastated with the tragedy that occurred at the ESPN Winter X Games this past weekend in Aspen, Colorado," Carl Schubitzke, ISOC president and race director, said in a statement. "The snowmobile community is very small, very close. … Caleb’s death has affected us all in such a way that we truly feel it’s in the sport of snocross’ best interest not to move forward with the two freestyle events planned for our Traverse City and Lake Geneva events.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Moore family and Caleb’s industry-wide group of friends, many of whom were his fellow competitors and regulars on the ISOC tour."
Caleb Moore
Moore died Thursday from injuries suffered in a crash Jan. 24 during the Snowmobile Freestyle event at X Games Aspen.
Even though Moore was not scheduled to be part of the two freestyle events originally planned with the snocross series, officials decided that calling off both was the best decision.
Many riders, including Ross Martin, paid their respects to Moore during last weekend’s snocross races in Deadwood, S.D. Martin dedicated his Round 8 victory to Moore. Organizers held a moment of silence before races last weekend and plan to do the same this weekend in Traverse City.
"After meeting with ISOC and understanding the impact Caleb Moore’s tragic death has had on the entire snowmobile community, we are in complete agreement with ISOC that it is best not to move forward with the freestyle events on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross tour," Rich Bailey, CEO of Grand Traverse Resort and Casinos, said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers at Turtle Creek Casino are with Caleb’s family and friends."
The Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg, Mich., is the site of this weekend’s Round 9 and 10 of the snocross season.
