Repeat Winners At Valcourt Snowmobile Races; Villeneuve Injured

Malcolm Chartier and Tim Tremblay repeated their Friday performance on Saturday, winning the Pro Champ 440 and Pro Open snocross finals Saturday on day 2 of the Grand Prix de Valcourt. However, the racing action was marred by a serious accident involving three-time World Champion and Quebec hero Jacques Villeneuve. According to posts on Facebook and coverage by Quebec media, Villeneuve was involved in an accident early in the day with Mike Soucy. He was airlifted from the track via helicopter to a hospital in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Folks with ties to the oval racing world have posted updates on our Oval Racing message board about Villeneuve’s injuries, but without hearing it from official sources we don’t want to repeat them here as facts. But our thoughts and prayers and definitely with Jacques right now.

On the Eastern Pro Tour website, this update was posted:

You may have heard, the major event of today was Jacques Villeneuve’s accident in his qualification round of Pro Champ. After a solid hit with Michael Soucy, victim of a mechanical failure, number 96 ended up in the hay bales between turn 3 and 4. He was soon transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital to be examined. For the Pro Champ Final, multiple accidents during the day delayed us to a point where we had to wait for the sun to be low enough not to affect our driver’s vision. Unfortunately we had to stop the race after only 8 of our 10 laps completed due to an accident of the number 10, Dan Fenhaus. Visibility was starting to be a dangerous factor for everyone. Our top 3 today is formed of: Malcolm Chartier, Dustin Wahl and Felipe Roy-Lalonde.”

Below is the press release from the Grand Prix de Valcourt.

 

Tim Tremblay and Malcolm Chartier Win Again in Day Two of the 2013 Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt Presented by FOX


Valcourt, Québec, February 16, 2013 – American Malcolm Chartier and Quebec snocross rider Tim Tremblay scored repeat wins in day two of the 31st running of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX. In the Pro Open snocross finale, Tremblay charged the field from seventh place on lap one, and took the lead with two laps to go, to earn his second consecutive win of the weekend on the famed Circuit Yvon-Duhamel. Tremblay was 10 seconds behind race leader Darrin Mees of Stanchfield, Minnesota, when he started his comeback. He crossed the finish line with a three second advantage. Corin Todd of Otego, NY finished third ahead of Swede Emil Ohman.

In the Pro Champ 440 final of the day, Malcolm Chartier of Marine City, Michigan was the clear winner over Dustin Wahl of Greenbush, Minnesota. The race was stopped three times and on each restart, Chartier easily pulled away from the field to eventually score his second major win of the weekend. Quebec rider Felipe Roy-Lalonde of St-Jude finished third.

Tim Tremblay snocross
Tim Tremblay at Valcourt. Photo provided by Grand Prix de Valcourt

In the other final races of the day on the ice oval, Michael Soucy of Hopkinton, New Hampshire captured the Semi-Pro Formula 500 race ahead of Cole McMichael of Lefroy, Ontario and Sabrina Blanchet of Quebec City. The Open Motorbike race was won by Maxime Sylvestre of Berthierville. He was followed by Samuel Desbiens and Shawn Ford.

In snocross Pro Lite, Mike Wallenstein of Cadillac, Michigan won the final race of the day ahead of Jesse James Bonaduce of Somerville, New Jersey. Chris Robertson of Annan, Ontario took third place, followed by Montana Jess of Westminster, Mass.

The action at the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcout presented by FOX continues Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m. with the first rounds of qualifying on both the oval and snocross tracks. Green flags for the final two races of the Grand Prix will be waved at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets for the Sunday February 17, 2013 Grand Prix of Valcourt presented by FOX can still be purchased at the Circuit Yvon Duhamel ticket office located at 917, Route 222 in Maricourt, Quebec J0E 2L2. Daily tickets are available for $30 each. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with an adult holding a valid ticket. All guests, including children, must hold a pass to enter the trackside suites.

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