The arctic temps that took over Fargo for the weekend did not slow down the racing action. Here are...
How is your favorite rider doing in the championship points standings after 4 rounds of racing? Check it out below! Like, comment, share on social media and tell us your winner predictions for Rounds 5 and 6 in Deadwood Jan 27-28, 2023.
PRO
- Elias Ishoel had a tough weekend. Only one 3rd place podium.
- Hunter Patenaude sweeps the weekend. Unreal turn around from the Fargo races.
- Kody Kamm just could not find the flow. Found himself off the sled a few times while battling for podiums. Drops 1 spot in points.
- Harr snagged 1 podium and a nasty crash, stays in 4th
- Adam Peterson is just chugging away out there. Have not seen much flash but he sits 5th.
- Francis was fast all weekend, crazy good starts but would find himself jumping the start and ruining Fridays podium chance. Found P2 Saturday.
- Logan finally got his first Ski-Doo podium after so many heat wins. Scheuring Speed Sports rocked it this weekend.
- Dan Benham had an up and down weekend. Running 3rd Friday but a sled issue pushed him to 4th as he had to roll the whole last lap. Saturday caught in a hole shot crash, retiring from the race. Drops 5 unlucky spots in the points. (3 way tie for 6th though)
- Narsa would be so fast but found bad luck at the wrong times this weekend
- Aki should have 2 top 5 finishes this past weekend but a broken ankle halted him Saturday halfway threw the race. The old bastard still finished though!!!!
- Cottew and Kern kind of weekends to forget and rebuild for Deadwood. BUT they still looked good out there.
- Gustav was a surprise to me that he could hang with the pack. Did not know him but GMR did good on the scouting and he MIGHT be staying for a few races longer now that Aki is out for 6-8 weeks. Should know shortly!
- Norum - OUT rest of season
- John Malmstrom - not that impressed yet. Kind of wondering what was going on out there? Going from a Ski-Doo to a Polaris is a big change and I'm sure he's still getting used to it. Lets chalk it up to first race jitters/blues. We will circle back after deadwood.....
PRO-LITE
- Jordan Lebel show - sweeps the weekend. Extends points lead.
- Bester makes a mistake Saturday crashing but has solid weekend prior and stays within reach of the points. Only 22 back
- Vintage Daudt (veteran of the class) keeps momentum in the class and finds the podium.
- Ogemar struggled again to keep pace with Lebel and Bester.
- Pake is the standout of the class. Factory last year to privateer this year and KILLING IT. Snags a 3rd place podium.
- Anson Scheele (The Icicle) has a stellar weekend. top 3 lap times Friday and Saturday deep in the finals, some laps p1. WAY last (start crash) to P7 Friday. Killer start, P2 finish, tracking down Lebel Saturday.
- Emeric finding his groove in the class and holding his own. Knocking on an opportunity.
- Evan Christian had a roller coaster weekend. Lots of highs but lots of time on the ground :( Rest up White Chocolate for Deadwood.
- Baily Forst shows up every round for a solid day. Top 10 in points on a privateer effort.
- Kenny Mandryk goes from DNQ to P6 career best... WHAT?? Great Saturday for the Canadian on his debut ride with Pflipson Racing.
- Oskar Englund found his mojo all day Saturday but tough luck would ensue. He will find the box with that speed.
- Dylan Roes found some pep on a new brand. Running P8 Saturday until a big hole ate him up and broke the sled 50 feet from the . He's gonna be a sneaky top 10 guy on that yellow bumble bee.
- Salomonsson has a magnet to every sled out on track 😂 Crazy fast but needs to put a solid finish together.
- Kirchmeyer seems to have found his speed on a sled. Main event guy this season.
PRO 30
- And Lieders doesn't age. Class of the old men lineup. Also made pro lite final Friday. Will be do the whole series to become the champ again?
- ASJ is 40(?) years old and leaving it all out on track. Hasn't missed the podium yet this year. Can he keep Lieders honest and force a mistake? Will be he champ if Lieders does not do the full circuit again this year?
- Devin Denman is the defending champ and still finding his groove on the new 2023 sled. He says the issues are figured out and it time to put the hammer down!
- Scott Doll has been taking boat docks out all fall for his training. He should have big muscles to fight for podiums. A little clutching and hole shot work and he will run a wide sled to hold off the previous 3. He just beat ASJ at a regional 2 weeks ago.
- Ryan Frank made his debut as a knee injury caused him to miss the opening 2 rounds. Can he find his flow and battle for the box?
- Shout out to all of you hard working old guys. I was once one of you in here and know the commitment it takes to work all week and pretend your a kid on the weekends. #muchrespect
PRO WOMEN
- Malene goes 3-1 this weekend and went WWE on the podium. No filter, nice to see not just a robot on the podium. Taven ends her perfect season.
- Woodie gets her 1st win of the season. Creating momentum after a Fargo that did not go her way.
- Hauger still clinging on to the championship. A little more race pace after the hole shot will get her that win and move closer to 1st in points.
- Tausha found the podium for the West Coast Customs Racing team. Her first of the season after a long string of 4th place finishes.
- Great competitive field this year.
SPORT
- Crayden Dillon is perfect so far in finals this year. Can get hole shot or work his way through the pack. Doesn't matter. He trains with Lebel, that's scary for the competition.
- Teenage Fabio (Archambault) 2nd in points. He just always seems to find the podium this year. Very consistent. He has taken his level up a notch. Great on Hemmer Motorsports to help him out again this season as well. He's showing he deserves it. A little race craft will get him on the top step.
- Freeland has been my downer this year in the class. After getting a Pro-Lite heat race win he hasn't won a sport final yet this year. Tough to hang it over his head though. He's riding good.
- Dom Hegman found the podium this weekend for the first time this season. But found the ground more in all 4 rounds. A little patience is key for him to string a podium streak and wants a chance at the championship points. Every point matters when you are going against Dillon who is super solid every time on track. HE'S BAD FAST on that All Finish Arctic Cat.
- Mikalsen got great starts but couldn't finish it off this weekend unlike in Fargo where he was a Podium guy. He drops in the points. Expect him to rebound though.
- Farmer just chugging along on his Polaris. Solid every round. What race will he podium?
- Honestly haven't really noticed Krajicek out there. So no comment (yet), he's gonna do something cool.
- Cam Cole had the same luck as his teammates so far this season. He's young and super duper fast though. He will be on the podium this year but when? Soon? Let's hope.
- Firth seems to be struggling on the Ski-Doo this season. He had multiple Polaris podiums last year. Will he get back to form?
- Tanner Johnson - I didn't know how he would sit in sport. He's so young and so fresh to the full throttle sleds even. Last year doing a few sport lite and now full time sport. But he got a heat race win and a P5 final finish. He is a podium contender for sure. He learns something new every time on track and really studies his teammates. Just stay on the sled and don't line up on the outside if you have a good gate pick. He's going to have a stand out ride in Deadwood - STAMP IT
- What happened to Jake Boutwell? Misses round 3-4
- Has anyone seen the old Beau Tibbetts? Is there something I just don't know?
- Heal up Josh Connolly
- Brian Petersen expected to return in New York from a broken collar bone.
