Pro Lite in Flight
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (Apr. 9, 2018) – National snocross series regular Hunter Patenaude and regional star Dylan Roes swept their respective class finals over the weekend, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) completed its 2018 season finale at the beautiful Bousquet Mountain.
Patenaude (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo), of Hartland, Vermont, led teammate Marco Travaglini across the stripe in Saturday’s 11-lap Pro final, while older brother Leo Patenaude (Ingles/Ski-doo) filled out the podium in third.
On Sunday, it was Leo’s weekly points rival Mike Pilotte (Team Southside/Polaris) who chased Hunter across the line in second, while Leo clinched the 2018 ECS Pro championship with a podium finish.
Just a few short years ago, the Patenaude brothers were honing their skills around New England as aspiring young racers. Today, Leo celebrates a well-deserved title, while Hunter reflects on his ISOC season with Scheuring Speed Sports. It’s been a dream come true for both, yet they worked hard for it.
“Saturday’s final was a little hectic, getting stuck behind a driver who fell off right off the start,” Patenaude said. “I started last and had to work my way forward. Unfortunately, Leo ended up tipping over in the corner at the top of the hill, and that’s how I got by him.
“On Sunday, I got the holeshot and just tried going as fast as possible while trying to ride as smart as I could with Mike (Pilotte) right behind me.”
Like his younger brother, Leo came up through the ranks and paid his dues. Clinching the Pro crown on Sunday was the big return on years of training, hard work and practice.
“It meant everything, because I’ve always wanted a Pro championship,” Leo said. “Ever since I was little, watching guys like Danny Poirier and the Boron brothers, that was my goal. This point title definitely means the world to me.
“I’m just so happy I was able to win it. I owe a big thanks to my Ingles Performance team, Ski-doo, our great partners and of course my parents for the opportunity to reach my lifelong goal.”
Roes (D&D Racing/Arctic Cat) blasted to victory in Saturday’s 10-lap Pro Lite final, with Tucker Kierstead (Kislowski Racing/Arctic Cat) settling for second. Longtime snocross veteran Wade Acker (Team Southside/Polaris), of Bristol, VT, finished third with a solid performance.
Roes made his 2018 ECS Pro Lite championship official by completing the clean sweep in dominant fashion in Sunday’s 12-lap tussle. Acker stepped it up to claim runner-up honors, while Ryan Dupont (Team Southside/Polaris) capped his strong season of racing with a solid third place finish.
“We came into the weekend with the mind set to just simply finish and stay safe so we could lock up the title,” Roes said. “We ended up winning everything, and honestly it was not expected.
“Winning the championship and sweeping the last weekend with an almost 14-second lead in Sunday’s final means so much to me. Being able to prove it to myself, knowing all the hard work has definitely paid off. I plan on continuing that work right into next season.”
Ashley Baird (Team Southside/Polaris) powered her way to victory in Saturday’s Pro Women final. Point leader Alissah Ashline settled for second, while hard charger Janell Smith filled out the podium in third. Ashline bounced back to win on Sunday, with Baird and Theresa Max finishing second and third, respectively.
Ashline clinched the 2018 Pro Women championship after an amazingly consistent winter.
In Sport action at Bousquet, Jesse Kirchmeyer capped a stellar season with another clean sweep. The talented athlete from Java, NY, led veteran Nathan Bourassa across the line in Saturday’s Sport Super Stock final, while Trevor Parent filled out the podium in third.
On Sunday, Adam Levi (SBT Racing/Ski-doo) earned runner-up honors while Bourassa had to settle for third. Kirchmeyer also won the Sport Super Stock 600cc Weekend final to make it a hat trick.
Adam Ashline (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) once again stole all the headlines in Junior class action at Bousquet Mountain. The rising young star from Hartland, VT, won six finals over the weekend, including Jr. 16-17 Stock 600 Sat. & Sun.; Jr. 14-15 Stock 600 Sat. & Sun.; and Jr. Sport 12-15 both days, as well.
Owen Gagne (Kislowski Racing/Arctic Cat) had another successful weekend with three second place finishes and a third in Jr. action, while Travis Emery and Chance Tietjen also made podium appearances over the two-day affair.
Other final round winners over the weekend at Bousquet include Nathan Bourassa (Plus 25/35 Saturday); Tristan Huey (Plus 25/35 Sunday); Jacoby Reeve (Jr. 7-14 Improved 200cc Saturday); and Jackson Kaplan (Jr. 7-14 Imp. 200cc Sunday).
East Coast Snocross officials would like to thank the staff and owners at Bousquet Mountain for hosting our 2018 season finale. The series debut in our back yard was well received by all; we look forward to a return visit in 2019 for more exciting snowmobile racing at a fine family-oriented facility.
Series owners Kurt and Stacy Gagne, General Manager Josh Little and the entire staff would like to thank those who made our 2018 season so enjoyable. From new host sites to new riders, it would not have been possible without the efforts of many. We hope to see you all again in 2019.
The East Coast Snocross Conx2share Series, presented by Woody’s Traction and FXR, is an ISR-affiliated sanctioning body for snowmobile racing in the northeastern United States. ECS maintains a regional circuit intended to keep grassroots snocross racing healthy in this part of the country, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed national Pro teams.
