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Bauer, Poirier split Pro finals in Fonda for East Coast Snocross,
Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction
Ingles Performance sweeps Sunday’s Pro podium
FONDA, N.Y. (Jan. 13, 2014) – Wisconsin native Mike Bauer and multi-time champion Danny Poirier split the Pro finals last weekend, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) made a highly-successful debut at historic Fonda Speedway in Fonda, New York.
Bauer (Jess Racing/Arctic Cat) won Saturday’s grueling 12-lap Pro Open battle over Poirier and Pro rookie Mike Pilotte (Team Southside/Mystic Lubricants Polaris), while Poirier (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) led from start to finish in Sunday’s 10-lap final. Poirier’s teammates Mathieu Morin of Val D’Or, Quebec, and Michigan native Kevin Wallenstein finished second and third respectively on Sunday to give the Ingles squad an impressive first-time sweep of the Pro podium.
Bauer slotted into second at the start of Saturday’s final behind 2013 Pro runner-up Lincoln Lemieux. When the timing was right, the talented Bauer slipped past Lemieux on lap nine and hung on for top honors. Pro rookie Jake daSilva and Wallenstein rounded out the top five.
“Lincoln had gotten a great start and I just kept pace with him while trying different lines,” Bauer said. “After the halfway point, I felt relaxed and ready to push. The rain made visibility very difficult, but I’m pumped to come through for the win. Carl, Ziggy and this whole Jess Racing Arctic Cat team is working hard to make this happen. I’m excited to win for them and can’t wait to see what the next races will bring.”
Poirier grabbed the holeshot in Sunday’s final and never looked back. After four Pro Open finals completed this season, the three-time champion from St. Theodore, Quebec has two wins to his credit. The transition to Ski-doo after several years on a Polaris has been nearly seamless.
“I pushed hard the entire race and was able to get the win,” Poirier said. “Mathieu was right on my bumper the whole way, but my sled was perfect. I’ve put in a lot of time with my mechanics, Ingles and Ski-doo to get to this level of performance. I’m more comfortable on this new Ski-doo than any other sled I’ve ridden in my career. Yet I’m still learning the sled and think I can do even better.”
Jesse James Bonaduce (Miksen Racing/Ski-doo) continued his early-season assault on the Pro Lite title with another win Saturday. The gifted athlete from Somerville, N.J., followed Connor Roscoe (daSilva Racing/Ski-doo) for one lap before taking command. Vermont native Leo Patenaude (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) followed Bonaduce across the line for second, while Pro Lite rookie Roscoe hung on for an impressive third-place finish.
On Sunday, it was another Pro Lite rookie who turned some heads. Young Hunter Patenaude grabbed the holeshot and led all eight laps to prevail in a hotly-contested affair. His older brother Leo settled for second, while longtime snocross veteran Jason Boron (Team Southside/Polaris) was third.
In Sport action at Fonda, rising star Cody Paolella won the Super Stock finals both Saturday and Sunday. Bruce Gaspardi Jr. and Joe Bishop bagged podium finishes behind Paolella on Saturday, while James Obine and Zac Roberts finished second and third respectively on Sunday. These young racers are the Pro Lite and even Pro riders of the future, putting out a huge effort every weekend.
Other final found winners over the weekend in Fonda include Marco Travaglini (Jr. 16-17 Sat.) and Vermonter Bradley Tatro (Jr. 16-17 Sun.); Steffanie Lemieux-Bell (Pro Women Saturday and Sunday); Joe Lemieux (Plus 30 Pro Am); and Bruce Gaspardi Jr. (Plus 25/35 Saturday and Sunday).
East Coast Snocross would like to thank Matt DeLorenzo and the entire staff at Fonda Speedway for hosting Round 2. Despite Saturday’s damp, rainy conditions, a large crowd was on hand to witness the action. The facility proved ideal for snocross, and fans in the Mohawk Valley sure got an exciting show each day. We look forward to a return to Fonda in 2015.
Next up for ECS teams is a trip to upstate New York to kick off the 2014 Triple Crown Series at the famed Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh. Pro Open, Pro Lite and Sport class riders will all compete against the best Quebec has to offer. The SCMX circuit will be at Airborne looking to show their U.S. rivals how it’s done.
East Coast Snocross, presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction, strives to maintain 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.