PRESS RELEASE FROM ECS
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2013) – Second-generation snocross racer Lincoln Lemieux stole the spotlight once again Sunday, completing a sweep of the Pro finals as East Coast Snocross (ECS) wrapped up Round 3 in the famed resort town of Lake George, New York.
Lemieux, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, piloted his Ski-Doo to victory in Saturday’s 14-lap contest, finishing just a half-second ahead of runner-up Corin Todd (Bailey/Hulten Polaris). Vermont veteran Chris Ackerman (Ingles Performance/Ski-Doo) came up big with his first podium run of the season in third.
Michael George (Damexco Racing/Ski-Doo) made a strong debut for Luc Brunelle’s team in fourth, while ageless veteran and multi-time champion Jason Boron returned to action with a solid fifth-place run.
In Sunday’s grueling 18-lap final, Lemieux checked out early as multi-time and defending Pro champion Danny Poirier (Bailey/Hulten Polaris) gave chase. Poirier settled for second behind a rocket-fast Lemieux, while Todd capped another consistent outing in third. George and Ackerman completed the top five.
“The track was a little short, but good overall since the snow was cleaner and softer than the previous race,” Lemieux said. “My sleds ran really well all weekend; the suspensions were dialed in perfectly. It was great to win again, I think it shows all the hard work that my father and this team have put into the sleds. I’m grateful for all of my sponsors and the support of my family, friends and the entire racing community.”
In Pro Lite action Saturday, Kevin Wallenstein (Ingles Performance/Ski-Doo) notched his second ECS victory with a stellar performance. The hard-charging young athlete from Cadillac, Michgian, followed Eddie Bandel (Team Southside/Polaris) for 12 laps before a late-race pass to steal the win. Bandel settled for second, while Jesse James Bonaduce (Miksen Racing/Ski-Doo) was rock-solid in third.
Sunday’s 14-lap final brought a familiar name back into the limelight. Former ATV racer Mike Pilotte (Team Southside/Polaris) stole the show at the opener last December, and returned to victory in style again at Lake George. The easy-going athlete from Fall River, MA, held off a major late-race charge from Leo Patenaude at the line to prevail by less than a second. Wallenstein filled out the podium in third.
“It feels fantastic to win again,” Pilotte said. “The tight track was a challenge, but my sled handled it all in stride. It isn’t easy to win at this level, but that’s three finals of six run thus far. I have to thank this great team once again for making it possible. I hope we can continue next weekend.”
Rising stars Hunter Patenaude (Patenaude Racing/Ski-Doo) and Connor Roscoe (daSilva Racing/Ski-Doo) continued their 2013 hot streaks in Sport action at Lake George. Patenaude held off Wade Acker and Tyler Brancifort for top honors in Saturday’s Super Stock final, while Roscoe outgunned Patenaude and Acker in Sunday’s battle. Patenaude completed a solid weekend with a win in Sport 600.
Other final round winners over the weekend in Lake George include Jason Boron (Pro Am); Melanie Acker (Pro Women Sat.); Steffanie Lemieux-Bell (Pro Women Sun.); Rene Desrochers (Plus 25/35 Sat. & Sun.); Zac Roberts (Jr. 16-17 Sat.); and Cody Paolella (Jr. 16-17 Sunday).
ECS would like to thank Sean Quirk of Extreme Snowmobile Rentals and the staff at King Neptune’s Pub for serving as gracious hosts last weekend. Lake George provides an ideal home for snocross in this part of New York, and thankfully temperatures were cold enough to make snow. Officials at ECS would also like to extend best wishes for a speedy recovery to Pro Lite rider Eddie Bandel, who crashed during qualifying action on Sunday. Bandel is an integral part of the family within the tight-knit northeastern snocross community. Everyone at ECS would also like to congratulate Jake Scott (Mystik Lubricants/Team LaVallee Polaris) and Derek Ellis (Jess Racing/Arctic Cat) for their seventh and eight place runs Sunday at the prestigious ESPN Winer X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Scott will return to ISOC Pro Lite action while Ellis will be back with ECS this coming weekend for Round 4 in Louiseville, Quebec.
For full results from Lake George or to learn more about snocross, please go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.
