Kody Kamm captured a little of that Lake Geneva magic that has been part of his arsenal throughout his racing career, to win an epic round 16 battle with now 11-time Champion Tucker Hibbert. Kamm made his way to the front of the pack in the early going and set sail gapping the field as Hibbert, who was pushed wide on the start, opted to take the joker lap on the first lap and mount a chase.
As the laps counted down to single digits, a now very familiar scenario began to play out as Hibbert weaved into the top three and began closing on Kamm. With two to go, Hibbert caught and passed Kamm going up the final climb. As they descended onto the mogul-filled front stretch, Kamm’s hometown crowd rose to their feet. Both riders had been tripling into the section during their fastest laps but this time Hibbert, who was on the right hand side doubled, while Kamm launched a moon shot and landed slightly in front of Hibbert to his left. The two were nearly side-by-side approaching the face of the finish line when Hibbert fell from his slide while trying to maintain his line and get passed Kamm.
Although that appeared to be the end of the drama, Kamm still had to take the joker lane at the top of the hill and as he returned to the main line he was faced with the oncoming Makita, Ski-Doo of Adam Renheim who had snuck under everyone’s radar. Both riders were in the air at the same time when they hit the final triple into the finish, with Kamm holding on for the win. Hibbert remounted to get back on track in third, while Tim Tremblay made a number of late race passes to finish fourth.
In the Pro Lite class, Daniel Benham once again has taken over the points lead after winning tonights main event, where he led flag-to-flag. The 2017-2018 AMSOIL Championship Snocross tour concludes tomorrow with Round 17, where other champions are yet to be crowned.
Pro Lite
Round 1
In the first Pro Lite heat race of the day, Zak Mason jumped out to the early race lead and battled closely with fellow racer, Martin Moland. Mason and Moland would battle for the entire five lap qualifier with the edge going to Mason. Viktor Herten started heat first qualifying race off by starting in third, but after an unfortunate incident in the Polaris corner, Anderson dropped down to the rear of the field. As the top two guys separated themselves and Herten’s mistakes, Korbyn Anderson rounded out the top three.
The second heat of round one, showcased the speed of championship contender Daniel Benham. Benham led the entire race flag-to-flag and in doing so regained the championship points lead after round one. Nisse Kjellstrom once again had a solid round of qualifying, and with it being his first race in Lake Geneva a second place finish is very much respected.
Marcus Ogemar and Jacob Yurk went to battle as both riders were looking to earn a top three finishing position in round one. Yurk applied much pressure late in the race but fell one spot short, as Marcus Ogemar rounded out the top three.
After the holeshot in heat three, it was three Ski-Doo riders on top. Hunter Patenaude earned his third heat race holeshot of the season as Aki Pihlaja and Emil Harr trailed behind. Email Harr would have an off on the downhill allowing Oskar Norum to slide into the third spot. The top two riders, Patenaude and Pihlaja, extended their leads, as the two went bar-to-bar for the heat race win. When the checkered flags flew it was Patenaude taking the win, reigning champion Aki Pihlaja in second, and Oskar Norum in third.
Round 2
Andrew Lindholm started off Pro Lite round two with his best holeshot of the weekend. Alexander Berglund once again had another great start as he began his qualifying efforts in second while Oskar Norum was third. Current points leader, Daniel Benham, was also in the first heat but after a poor start Benham found himself in fifth. Benham started making moves towards the front but after having an issue on the Arctic Cat downhill he was forced to seventh, Lindholm and Berglund took the top two spots in the heat, giving these two racers their best finishes of the weekend.
Oskar Norum also had a solid round of racing again as he crossed the finish line in third. Benham did charge back through the pack, and finished heat one in fifth. In round two heat two, Zak Mason picked up where he left off in round one and pulled another monster holeshot. Like in round one, Mason pulled away from the field and lead the race flag-to-flag. Jacob Yurk was the second rider up the hill after the hole shot but due to a mechanical issue, Yurk fell down to the fourth position on the first lap.
Yurk’s bad luck, meant that Nisse Kjellstrom and Aki Pihlaja would advance to the second and third spots. The race would conclude in that order as Mason took the win, Kjellstrom was second and Pihlaja third. The final Pro Lite qualifying race of Round 16 saw arguably the biggest holeshot of the weekend. Martin Moland timed the green light perfectly as he shot up the hill in the lead and never looked back. Moland would go on to win the race with Cole Cottew charging hard from fourth to finish in second.
Final
The 15 riders embarked up the world renowned Grand Geneva hills, and it was none other then current points leader Daniel Benham out front over the stacked Pro Lite field. Benham was chased my the number one qualifier, Zak Mason, who was having the best night of racing for himself, thus far this season.
Championship contender, Jacob Yurk, had to start the main event in the back row after poor qualifying efforts, and started his race in the 12th position. New this season for the Pro Lite class was the infamous Joker Lane, which riders must take on one lap during the main event. Reigning Champion, Aki Pihlaja, chose to take the Joker Lane on the first lap and now found himself racing from the 12th position.
Nisse Kjellstrom had one of his best starts of the season as he was in third and close behind the two leaders. Andrew Lindholm’s Arctic Cat once again was a rocket up the hill, as the #46 machine settled into the fourth spot.
Martin Moland set the fastest lap of the race on lap three as he was marching through the field and now found himself in the top five. With the laps winding down, the top five have separated themselves and remained in the same running order. Andrew Lindholm was forced wide in the Polaris corner and elected to take the Joker Lane, causing him to give up his fourth place position. Lindholm would have problems later in the race, forcing him down to 14th.
On the last lap of the race, the top three riders all went through the Joker Lane simultaneously and still remained in the same running order. Daniel Benham took the double checkered flags, earning the win and extending his points lead to 15. Zak Mason continued on his qualifying races success, finishing in second giving the Michigan native his first podium of the season. Martin Moland charged fiercely on the last two laps from fifth to round out the podium in third.
1. #221 Daniel Benham 2. #63 Zak Mason 3. #75 Martin Moland 4. #27 Nisse Kjellstrom 5. #128 Aki Pihlaja 6. #31 Emil Harr 7. #58 Marcus Ogemar 8. #21 Cole Cottew 9. #727 Jacob Yurk 10. #57 Andy Lieders 11. #17 Korbyn Anderson 12. #40 Oskar Norum 13. #201 Travis Kern 14. #46 Andrew Lindholm 15. #114 Alexander Berglund
Pro
Round 1
Round 16 for the Pros of AMSOIL Championship Snocross Powered by RAM was started off with a great battle between Adam Renheim and reigning Pro champion Kody Kamm. Renheim had his best start of the weekend but was passed on the ensuing lap by Kamm. Renheim would stay close for the entire heat race but fell short to the composure of Kamm.
Corin Todd started the race in fifth but with smart line choices moved to third in the beginning laps. Todd would be passed on lap four by Pro rookie Montana Jess who at the end of the race would be the rider in the third spot. The second heat race of round one once again saw Tucker Hibbert dominate the field. Hibbert was once again a rocket out of the holeshot and lead the entire race flag-to-flag.
Petter Narsa had a comeback ride as he was in an unfortunate crash last night forcing him to finish in the rear of the field. Narsa finished round one in second. Rounding out the top three was Elias Ishoel who also had bad luck in Round 15 but started tonights racing off with a third.
Round 2
The final round of Pro qualifying was kicked off with the “Nite Crew” dominating heat one. Tucker Hibbert and Logan Christian piloted there Arctic Cats to the lead and rode the race with the utmost confidence. With Hibbert taking the win in round one qualifying, he was declared the 2017-2018 Pro National champion for the 11th time in his career.
Winning the championship did not slow him down as he was victorious in round two by over eight seconds. His training partner Christian also had a great race but with laps winding down, Christian was passed by hometown hero Kody Kamm. Kamm would go on to finish in second and Christian finished his qualifying efforts in third.
Montana Jess has been on a holeshot streak and in round 2 he would earn the coveted holeshot once again. Jess’s lead did not last long as Petter Narsa made a pass on the outside for the lead and rode his Pirtek Polaris to victory. The battle for second and third was a tight one as it was a three way battle to earn a top three finishing spot. Montana Jess, Corin Todd and Tim Tremblay all battled side-by-side during the closing laps. When the snow settled on heat two, it was Corin Todd earning second and Tim Tremblay rounding out the top three.
1. #1 Kody Kamm 2. #311 Adam Renheim 3. #68 Tucker Hibbert 4. #11 Tim Tremblay 5. #200 Elias Ishoel 6. #43 Logan Christian 7. #36 Corin Todd 8. #13 Lincoln Lemieux 9. #54 Petter Narsa 10. #765 Montana Jess 11. #541 Ryan Springer 12. #98 Nick Pattyn 13. #436 Travis Muller 14. #248 Brett Nastala 15. #610 Kristoffer Holm
Pro AM Women
Elina Ohman went out on top as she was victorious in the final race of the season for the Pro AM Women’s class. Ohman who was the 2017 Champion announced her retirement as she was standing on top of the podium in Round 16. Ohman finished third in this seasons final overall standings. Second place tonight, was taken by none other than the new women’s champion, Megan Broduer. The final spot on the podium was earned by Malene Anderson who ended her season second in the points championship.
Pro AM Plus 30
Matt Pichner, aboard his Tralo Motorsports Arctic Cat, was crowned Pro AM Plus 30 Champion after finished third in tonights main event. Tonights winner, Kurt Bauerly, finished his season off strong and solidified the second place spot in the overall points championship. Andy Lieders rounded out the podium in Round 16. Cory Thene had a poor start in tonights final but after a strong season, he is taking home third in the points championship.
