PETERSON EARNS 3RD IN TRIPLE CROWN, BESTER: 2ND PLACE, AND LIEDERS WINS IN ELK RIVER 🥇🥈🥉

March 14, 2023 The sixth stop on the National Snocross tour brought us back to a familiar venue, ERX Motor Park in Elk River, MN. Just a few weeks ago, the Snocross Series had to unfortunately cancel the Salamanca, NY stop due to lack of snow, and ERX Motor Park was able to fill-in as host for Rounds 7 and 8th. With ample amount of snow, the track in Elk River, Minnesota did not disappoint and to mix things up the track featured technical rhythm sections, deep holes, huge air and a lot of right-handed turns, as the track for Rounds 11 and 12 was reversed. Along with the change in a reversed style track, the Pro Class would also be competing in a Triple Crown format for the weekend. Instead of the traditional two heats and a final format, the premier class would have three, eight-minute (plus two laps) finals. Each would register overall points and whoever garnered the most points through the three rounds would be crowned the night's overall winner.

2022 Rookie of the Year; Adam Peterson (PRO) was hunting for redemption in Rounds 11 and 12 in Elk River. In Triple Crown Day 1 of racing, Peterson qualified fifth in his practice/qualifying round, allowing him to line up fifth in Triple Crown Round 1. As the green light went for the first round of Pro racing, ripping out of the gates into the first place position, was Peterson on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled. As Peterson was in the lead, he got contact from another rider, ripping the torsion spring free and eventually causing Peterson’s track to lock up completely and not allowing him to finish out Round 1. With a complete change of sleds, Peterson was ready to do all he could from the back row in Round 2. Off the start, Peterson took on the gnarly track and worked his way up from the 11th place spot and finished in the notable 7th. For the 3rd Round of the night, Peterson rocketed out of the gate, ripping an impressive holeshot and came into the first corner in the first place position. As the minutes were running down, Peterson was passed for first place but raced fast, smooth and consistent and finished out Round 3 in the excellent 2nd place spot! Peterson finished Triple Crown Round 11 in the 8th place position.

On Saturday, Triple Crown Round 12, Peterson started the day off with good qualifying, allowing him to line up in the seventh place spot for Round 1. On the line for the Triple Crown Round 1, Peterson shot out of the gates on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled and was sitting in the second place spot. Peterson continued to put on heavy pressure on the first place rider and at about halfway through the eight-minute plus two lap round, Peterson passed for first place. With continued pressure from behind, Peterson made a mistake and went off of the track on the last lap but was able to still finish in the impressive 2nd place spot. For Round 2, Peterson didn’t have the start he was hoping, and was towards the back of the pack. At about the halfway point, Peterson worked his way up from eight place and finished out Round 2 in the fifth place spot. Going into the Final Round of the Elk River National, Peterson was sitting in the second place spot in Triple Crown points. As the green light went for the final race of the night, Peterson came out of the gates and into the first corner in the fourth place spot. Peterson continued to ride an incredible race, picked smart lines, rode smooth and finished Round 3 in the fourth place spot, securing Peterson for third place overall in Triple Crown Round 12. Congratulations Adam!

Peterson is currently sitting in 6th place overall in the 2023 Snocross Pro Class.

Pro Lite rider, Ryley Bester who has had six podium finishes this season, was eager for rounds 11 and 12 in Elk River. In Pro Lite qualifying, Bester, who is known for his impressive holeshots, continued that trend on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled and had good qualifying with a 5th and 1st place finish. Coming into the Pro Lite Round 11 Final as the fifth place qualifier, that allowed Bester to have a nice spot in the front row of his final race of the night. As the green light went and the 8 minute plus one lap started, Bester shot out of the starting gate and was unfortunately pinched out and found himself slammed into a pileup. As Bester removed himself from the carnage and back into racing he continued to push the limits for the remainder of the race and finished Round 11 just outside the top ten, in the 12th place spot.

For Saturday’s Round 12 of racing, Bester had a new fire under him and was seeking redemption. In Pro Lite qualifying, Bester swept his qualifying rounds with ripping incredible holeshots all throughout the day and taking two first place finishes and earning the number one gate pick for the Round 12 final, Saturday night. For the final Pro Lite race of the weekend in Elk River, Bester had a tough start and after a tangle in the first corner of the first lap, he came out in the 10th place spot. From there, Bester put his head down and was on a prowl. After two minutes had gone by, Bester, who was looking incredibly comfortable on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled continued to pick clean lines and passed his way all the way up to the 3rd place spot. With continued momentum, and now three minutes left to go in the eight-minute plus two lap final, Bester was able to make another incredible pass and finished out the Round 12 Pro Lite final in the exciting 2nd place spot! Bester is now up to seven podiums this season! Congratulations Ryley!

Bester is currently sitting in 2nd place overall in the 2023 Snocross Pro Lite Class.

PRO AM Plus rider, Andy Lieders, continued his winning ways, dominating all day in the Pro AM Plus 30 Class. Ripping awesome holeshots and earning two wins in his qualifying rounds and under the lights Saturday night Lieders was the number one qualifier. Off of the line of the Pro AM Plus 30 final, Lieders came out into the the third place spot on his Team LaVallee, Polaris sled, and made a quick pass for the first place spot. As the race went on, Lieders rode a very strong race, had a huge lead from the rest of the pack and picked up another Pro AM Plus 30 win. This marked Lieders fifth win of the season! Congratulations Andy!

Lieders is currently sitting in 1st place overall in the 2023 Snocross Pro AM Plus 30 Class.

Up next for AMSOIL Championship Snocross: Cannonsburg Snocross National in Cannonsburg, Michigan on March 24-25, 2023.

You can watch all 16 rounds of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season plus the AMSOIL Dominator live on FloRacing with a subscription.