February 21, 2023 As we reach the halfway point for the 2022/2023 Snocross Season, Rounds 7 and 8 were supposed to be held in Salamanca, New York, however with unseasonably warm weather, rain, and no snow within that entire area - Snocross made the decision to cancel that location and move the race to ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota. With about a week of notice, ERX had more than enough snow to host Rounds 7 and 8 which boasted a very large track with left and right turns, technical whoops and huge air.
2022 Rookie of the Year; Adam Peterson (PRO) was coming off of a 2nd place finish in the race prior in Deadwood, SD and was ready to hit the track in Elk River. Peterson started out Round 7 on Friday with consistent qualifying, with taking two 4th place finishes in his respective qualifying rounds. Under the lights, Friday night Peterson shot out of the gate on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled and came out within the top five. Peterson was hunting down the fourth place the entire 10 minute plus 1 lap final and as the clock was winding down, Peterson continued to put on heavy pressure, ride strong and smooth and finished out the Round 7 final in the 5th place spot.
On Saturday, Round 8, Peterson started the day off with good qualifying, taking a fifth and third place finish in his qualifying rounds, enough to allow him a front row gate pick for the Round 8 Final, Saturday night. As the sleds lined up for the final race of the Elk River National, Peterson rocketed out of the gates on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled and came out in the 3rd place spot! Peterson was pushing the limits and ready to make some moves, but mis-timed one of the jumps and came down hard. Peterson regained his composure and reentered the race, and as the clock was winding down from the 10 minute plus one lap final, Peterson continued to push hard and finished out the Elk River National weekend in the notable 9th place spot.
Pro Lite rider, Ryley Bester who had a very impressive start to the 2023 season, was ready for the Elk River National. In Pro Lite qualifying, Bester took an excellent 3rd and 1st place finish. With ripping holeshots and riding very confident on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled, Bester was ready for the eight minute plus one lap final. Under the lights Friday night, Bester had a good start and was sitting within the top five spot. As the race was pushing on, Bester continued to bring the heat. With consistent lap times and smooth riding, Bester finished out day one, Round 7 in Elk River in the great 5th place spot.
On Saturday, Round 8, Bester started the day off with a bang, with winning both of his qualifying rounds and earning the number one gate pick for the Round 8 final, Saturday night. For the final Pro Lite race of the weekend in Elk River, Bester ripped a massive holeshot on his Team LaVallee, Polaris, Red Bull sled and was sitting in the first place spot. Bester, who was riding super strong lead nearly the entire race, but as the clock was winding down and Bester was navigating through lapped traffic, he was eventually passed but still earned an excellent 2nd place for Round 8 in Elk River. This marks Bester’s fourth podium of the season! Congratulations Ryley!
PRO AM Plus rider, Andy Lieders, signed up for the Pro Lite and Pro AM Plus 30 class in Elk River. With no Pro Plus 30 class on Friday, Lieders entered in the Pro Lite class, as he has done various times throughout the past seasons. With earning an impressive 4th and 2nd in both of his qualifying rounds, Lieders had a nice gate pick under the lights for the Pro Lite Round 7 Final. Off of the line, fellow team-mate Bester ripped out of the gate, and Lieders came out mid-pack. As the time counted down and the laps pushed by, Lieders rounded out the night in the 11th place spot.
On Saturday, Lieders was back to his Pro AM Plus 30 class and continued his winning ways, dominating all day in the Pro AM Plus 30 Class. 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 was able to rip an awesome holeshot on his Team LaVallee, Polaris sled, rode a very strong race and picked up another win for this season. Congratulations Andy!
Up next for AMSOIL Championship Snocross: Obtain Ink Snocross National in Sioux Falls, SD on March 3-4, 2023
You can watch all 16 rounds of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season plus the AMSOIL Dominator live on FloRacing with a subscription.
Photos by: Crystal Wallem Photography