SNOCROSS 2022-2023 END OF SEASON RECAP

Writing and photos by Crystal Magiera / Crystal Wallem Photography

Amsoil Championship Snocross wrapped up their 2022-2023 season in Dubuque, Iowa where the tough mudder was no match for our FXR athletes. Despite warm temps and rain leading up to the finale, the April 1st race weekend was no joke. Fans filled the stands and champions were crowned atop Sundown Mountain Resort, including Elias Ishoel making history with his fifth straight Championship.

THENE MOTORSPORTS
Success is a word often associated with Thene Motorsports. The team’s 2022-2023 season addition of Sport rider Crayden Dillon played out to be a solid move considering Dillon’s winning ways. Dillon clinched the Sport Championship early on in the final race weekend in Dubuque where he then made the bump up to the Pro Lite class for the remainder of the weekend. Dillon looked at home in the Pro Lite class, matching the pace of the top athletes in this division and scoring a 3rd place podium in Saturday night’s final. The momentum kept rolling for Dillon on Sunday where he was in position for another podium before the mud got the best of his sled resulting in a DNF. Dillon looks to be a top competitor in the Pro Lite class going into next season and earned the award of “Most Improved Racer.”

Conqueror, reigning champ, and now record breaker include just a few adjectives that describe Elias Ishoel. The Norwegian native with a long history of success accomplished his 5th straight Pro Championship—breaking the previous record of consecutive championships. Recovering from an off-season injury, Ishoel played it smart throughout the course of the 2022-2023 season, pushing himself when he could and toning it down a notch when needed. His wisdom, 12 podium finishes, and many great qualifier races earned Elias another championship title.

Competing in the Pro Lite ranks, Marcus Ogemar put a stamp on a commendable season filled with qualifier wins and podium finishes. Ogemar has proven consistency is key, and his 5 podium finishes throughout the season earned him 3rd place in the Pro Lite point standings. To top it off, Ogemar was awarded “Best Haircut” at the end of season banquet after him and teammate Elias Ishoel wagered a bet midway through the season.

Pro Lite rookie Emeric Legendre ran a solid first season in the Pro Lite class, earning 10th place in the overall point standings.

ONE THREE MOTORSPORTS

One Three Motorsports earned the title of “Team of the Year,” one of the most coveted awards handed out at the end of the season. One Three was led by reigning Pro Women champion Malene Cottew who remained 1st in points throughout the course of the entire season, collected a clean sweep in Rounds 11 & 12, and claimed her third straight championship. Malene and her husband Cole, known as “Two Cottews,” jointly received the much deserved “Fan Favorite” award.

Pro Lite athlete Jeremy Beaulieu remained sidelined for the majority of the season due to injury, but was able to return to racing for a couple of rounds in the second half of the season.

Brothers Hudson and Holden Kuhn competed in the junior ranks—Hudson in Transition 8-10 and Holden in 200 Stock. Holden joined his brother in the Transition class for the last few rounds where both made finishes within the top 5.

TEAM LAVALLEE RACING

Adam Peterson concluded his second season in the Pro ranks, grabbing a pair of podium finishes and a 6th place in overall points.

 

One of the top names in Pro Lite this season, Ryley Bester was finally able to get the win he had been thirsty for all season long. In Round 15, Bester ripped the holeshot and remained out front all the way to the top spot on the podium for his first win of the season. Bester cashed in 10 total podiums this season and earned 2nd in overall points.

Andy Lieders has repeatedly proven that he’s still got it. Lieders not only dominates the Pro Am Plus 30 class, but he also dabbles in Pro Lite. With a nearly perfect season in Plus 30, Lieders took home the title of Points Champion. To top it off, Lieders put on quite the spectacle in the final round of Pro Lite in Dubuque where he ripped the holeshot for an early lead in the final. After pulling a 7 second lead on the remainder of the pack, Lieders looked to have a win in the books until a mistake dropped him back. Nonetheless, Lieders mustered up a 3rd place podium finish for an exciting end to the season.

HENTGES RACING

Veteran racer Kody Kamm has competed in the Pro ranks for over a decade and has continually showed progression and success. Kamm concluded one of his best seasons in recent years, finishing 2nd in the overall points race—only 13 points behind Elias Ishoel in 1st. Kamm finished off the season on a high note with double podiums in Dubuque.

SKOGQUIST RACE TEAM

Skogquist Race Team’s first season was certainly one to write home about. Between the team’s five riders, SRT made 47 trips to the podium throughout the course of the season. Petter Narsa claimed his first podium of the season in Round 13 at Cannonsburg and finished off the season 9th in Pro points.

Drew Freeland made a multitude of podium appearances throughout the season and claimed 2nd in points in the Sport class. Freeland tried his hand at racing Pro Lite for the final race weekend in Dubuque where he did the unthinkable—a huge win to cap off the season!

Competing in Sport Lite, Brady Freeland boasts a 2nd place in the overall points race. Freeland earned 8 total podiums throughout the 2022-2023 season.

Twin brothers AJ and Wyatt Skogquist both competed in the Junior 10-13 and Transition 9-13 classes. Both have made numerous trips to the podium and have placed well in the points races. AJ claimed the title of points champion in the Junior 10-13 class as well as 2nd in points for both Friday and Saturday’s Transition 9-13 classes. Wyatt’s overall points finishes include 4th in Junior 10-13, 5th in Friday’s Transition 9-13, and 3rd in Saturday’s Transition 9-13.

HEMMER MOTORSPORTS

Though injuries have plagued Nick Lorenz throughout much of his racing career, Lorenz has proven to power through adversity. Lorenz returned to race the final 10 rounds of racing after a broken wrist sidelined him after Fargo. Despite missing nearly half of the season, Lorenz mustered a 13th place in the overall Pro Lite points race.

Satellite rider Tyler Archambault collected a whopping 10 podiums in the Sport class throughout the course of the season. Archambault rounded out the season 3rd in overall points.

Multi-class athlete Avery Hemmer raced in both the Transition 9-13 class as well as the Junior Girls class. Hemmer’s collection of podiums earned her a 2nd in the Junior Girls points championship.

 

Lila Hemmer also races in two classes—Transition 8-10 and 120 Champ. Hemmer made huge strides in the Transition class and took home a solid 4th place in overall points in the 120 Champ class.

GREEN MOUNTAIN RACING

Green Mountain Racing has fielded and supported an army of riders throughout the 2022-2023 season—including Gustav Sahlsten, Gustav Vesterlund, Albin Lundqvist, Robert Lunden, Peetu Joutsen, Pontus Lundstrom, Ole-Herman Sjorgen, Anton Lindstrom, Oscar Nikula, Oskari Laamanen, and Wesley Ganchou. Though GMR’s core competitors were Aki Pihlaja, Topi Posti, and Emil Mikalsen.

Aki Pihlaja is one of the oldest athletes in the sport, but his age has not slowed him down. Despite suffering an ankle injury early on in the season, Pihlaja returned to racing for the remaining rounds where he won a Triple Crown race at ERX as well as a 3rd place overall podium in the Pro class.

A pair of 3rd place podiums and handful of top-5 finishes summed up a successful rookie season in the Pro Lite class for Topi Posti. In fact, Posti was awarded the “Rookie of the Year” award at the end of season banquet. Posti finished off the season 8th in points.

 

Emil Mikalsen represented Green Mountain Racing in the Sport division. Mikalsen collected four podiums throughout the season, including one win. Mikalsen finished 5th overall in the points race.

WOODIES RACING

It is rare to not see Taven Woodie on the podium, but unfortunately this was the Pro Women athlete’s reality for the last three rounds of racing. Woodie suffered a knee injury during Round 13 in Michigan—though the warrior was not about to sit out for the remainder of the season. Woodie was able to collect more points towards her chase for the championship, but slowed down the pace for the last three rounds. Woodie earned 13 podiums this season, including two wins, 2nd place in the points race, and received the “Impact Award” for her positive attitude and effort to grow the sport of Snocross.

Hailing from Sweden, Oskar Englund made huge strides throughout the season and placed 18th overall in the Pro Lite class.

FRATTALONE RACING

With 11 total podium appearances this season, Inanna Hauger was one of the top athletes in the Pro Women class. Hauger concluded the 2022-2023 season 3rd in overall points.

Pro Lite rookie Eric Downs stayed consistent throughout the season, ending 11th in points. Downs landed on the podium in Round 5 for his first ever Pro Lite podium.

SNOWBIKE

Troy Horbaty continued to dominate in this season’s Snowbike Triple Crown series, clinching the championship on Saturday night in Dubuque. Jesse Kirchmeyer rounded out the season 4th in points. Both Horbaty and Kirchmeyer are crossover athletes, competing in both the Snowbike and Pro Lite (snowmobile) classes.

 

Cheers to another successful season. We’ll be back once the snow starts flying!

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