The battle for international snocross supremacy was setting up to be a particularly intriguing two-man battle this season between five-time champ Elias Ishoel from Norway and defending champion Emil Harr from Sweden.

Recovering from a devastating injury suffered last year, Ishoel was leading the way with victories in three of the five rounds of racing in December and January, but Harr was snapping at his snowflap in most of them and was second in points. When January ended, the Pro points standings had Ishoel at 111 and Harr at 103.

But Ishoel then suffered a hand injury, which required surgery that injured the insertion of three pins in his left thumb. With the door cracked open, Harr stormed through, claiming both Pro class victories in Valcourt, Quebec, on February 8-9. Below are the two complete stories from the host ISOC Amsoil Championship Snocross Series on the weekend’s racing, starting with Saturday’s race action directly below and then the Sunday story beneath that.

Championship Battle Intensifies as Amsoil Snocross Heads to Historic Valcourt

Valcourt, Quebec – Amsoil Championship Snocross charged into Valcourt, Quebec, for its highly anticipated fourth weekend of racing, set against the iconic backdrop of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt. This legendary event, first held in 1983, stands as a crown jewel in the world of snowmobile racing – held at the birthplace of Ski-Doo, where history and high-speed competition collide.

Unlike any other stop on the Snocross circuit, Valcourt hosts a Pro-only showcase featuring the Amsoil Pro Open, Pro Lite, and Pro Women divisions as part of a three-day spectacle of raw power and skill. With five-time champion Elias Ishoel only taking starts due to a practice injury, all eyes turn to defending champion Emil Harr and hometown favorite Jordan Lebel, who look to capitalize on the moment and separate themselves from the field as the championship chase intensifies.

Harr Reclaims Points Lead with Triple Crown Trifecta

The Amsoil Championship Snocross series delivered an electrifying weekend of racing at the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt, where defending champion Emil Harr put on a commanding performance, sweeping all three rounds of the Pro Triple Crown and reclaiming the overall points lead.

Coming off his first victory of the season in Deadwood, S.D., two weeks ago, Harr carried that momentum into Valcourt, where he was untouchable. He led all but three laps across the three-race format, finishing with a perfect score and leaving no doubt about his dominance in Quebec.

“There were some fast guys out there today, and I was able to stay out front,” said Harr. “It was a good day, and I’m happy with the first. The team has been working hard, and I have to thank them for that.”

While Harr was in control up front, the fight for second place went down to the wire in the final round. Local favorite Jordan Lebel opened with a runner-up finish in the first race but dismounted while attempting to make a pass on Harr late in the contest, finishing 11th, which hurt his overall podium chances.   

Fellow Quebec native Francis Pelletier was consistent with 3-3 finishes in the first two rounds, while Jacob Yurk kept himself in contention with a 4-2 performance heading into the final race.

In the deciding round, Lebel rebounded to finish second, while Yurk took third and Pelletier crossed the line in fourth. That result locked Yurk into second overall with nine points, marking his third podium of the season. On his first day of racing this season after recovering from an injury , Pelletier finished third with 10 points, while Lebel settled for fourth with 15 points.

Despite being sidelined by injury, five-time champion Elias Ishoel continued to take starts and pick up valuable points, adding eight to his total. However, Harr’s victory in Valcourt was enough to propel him back into the overall championship lead, now holding a nine-point advantage.

Dillon Dominates Valcourt, Reclaims Pro Lite Points Lead

Crayden Dillon might have been the happiest rider to leave Deadwood behind, and he made the most of his fresh start in Valcourt. After his three-race win streak was halted on the tight South Dakota track, Dillon returned to form on Quebec’s big, flowing layout, using the long straights and massive jumps to his advantage. Despite battling an illness, he grabbed the holeshot, led every lap, and stormed to his fourth victory of the season, reclaiming the Anderson’s Maple Syrup Pro Lite points lead in the process.

“Yesterday, we decided to skip practice, which I thought was a smart move,” said Dillon. “Woke up today a little stiff, but we worked our way through the day and made it happen.”

Looking to stay atop the podium, Anson Scheele looked to fend off a determined Drew Freeland in Saturday’s final. Freeland rocketed off the line into second place behind Dillon and held firm, securing his second podium ahead of the season and first since round one.

Scheele, the round five winner, started in fifth place and patiently worked his way forward, making a decisive lap-eight pass on Brandon Nelson to lock in third place — his fourth podium of the year. With Dillon’s win, he now holds a slim one-point advantage over Scheele in the championship standings as the title fight tightens.

Cottew Extends Streak with Dominant Performance in Valcourt

Defending Bikeman Performance Pro AM Women’s champion Malene Cottew continued her unstoppable run in Valcourt, securing her fourth consecutive victory with a wire-to-wire performance in Saturday’s final. After battling Inanna Hauger for the holeshot, Cottew quickly took control and never looked back, adding another dominant win to her season tally.

“It’s a very gnarly track, but it’s so much fun,” said Cottew. “It’s technical, and you can kind of spread out a little bit, and I just love it up here with the whole Ski-Doo family.”

Fresh off her round-four victory, Hauger put in another strong ride to finish second, marking her fifth straight podium. Meanwhile, Cerissa Blessum delivered an impressive effort to claim third place, earning her second podium finish of the season.

Defending Champs Harr, Cottew Sweep in Valcourt as a Rising Star Shakes up the Pro Lite Points

 Valcourt, Quebec – Day two of the Amsoil Championship Snocross at the Grand Prix de Ski-Doo Valcourt in Valcourt, Quebec, delivered a thrilling spectacle as riders tackled a massive track built for big air and high-stakes competition. Deep ruts, towering jumps, and tight corners pushed every competitor to their limits, setting the stage for a shake-up in the standings.

The defending Pro champ showed his resilience, climbing the ladder with each lap and proving why he remains a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, a rising Pro Lite star made his mark, finding his rhythm and charging up the rankings against a stacked field of young talent. In the Women’s division, dominance continued to be the name of the game, as the five-time champion once again showcased her superior speed and skill, leaving her rivals in the snow-drenched wake of her sled.

With momentum building and championship aspirations on the line, the Amsoil Championship Snocross season is proving to be one for the record books, with Valcourt setting the stage for an explosive finish.

Harr Edges Lebel in Tiebreaker to Sweep Valcourt Weekend

 The battle for the Amsoil Pro class top spot intensified on Sunday at the Grand Prix de Ski-Doo Valcourt, as Emil Harr and Jordan Lebel traded blows in a thrilling showdown.

The local favorite, Lebel, was eager to rebound after a near-podium miss on Saturday. He was dominant early, winning the first two rounds with authority. But the defending champion Harr stayed consistent, finishing 3-2 before stepping up in the third and final round. With Lebel aiming for a clean sweep, Harr delivered under pressure, taking the round three win and forcing a tie in overall points. By virtue of his victory in the final race, Harr claimed the overall win, completing a weekend sweep and further strengthening his grip on the points lead.

While Harr’s victory wasn’t without challenge, his resilience paid off, earning him a 24-point lead in the standings over Lebel, who settled for second overall.

Meanwhile, Oskar Norum’s steady performance (2-5-6) secured him third place, marking his second podium in three rounds. With Harr emerging as the points leader but facing stiff competition, the championship race remains wide open as the season heads into its next rounds, with a full return expected from five-time champion Elias Ishoel.

 Freeland Breaks Through for First Career Pro Lite Victory in Valcourt

Sunday’s Anderson’s Maple Syrup Pro Lite final in Valcourt saw a new name rise to the top as Drew Freeland powered his way to his first career victory in the class. With Saturday night’s winner, Crayden Dillon, sidelined due to illness and unable to advance to the final, the door was wide open for a shake-up in the standings.

Rookie standout Brandon Nelson, the fastest qualifier, set the early pace, but Freeland found another gear in the second half of the race. On lap eight, he made a decisive move past Nelson and never looked back, charging to the checkered flag and cementing his place among the series’ rising stars.

“It was a rough track out there; it’s an amazing track,” said Freeland. “At about the halfway point, I decided it was time to make a move. I got on the inside and made the pass for the lead, and I just tried to hold my own and put in good laps.”

Behind Freeland, round four winner Tyler Archambault mounted an impressive late-race push, clawing his way from sixth on the grid to a strong runner-up finish. Adam Ashline kept his momentum going with a solid third-place run, securing his second podium of the season.

With Dillon’s absence in the final, Anson Scheele capitalized on the opportunity, leaving Canada with the red plate and a 10-point championship lead over Dillon, while Freeland’s breakthrough win moved him  up to third, 18 points back in the standings.

Cottew Shows Strength and Speed in Valcourt Sweep

 Malene Cottew continued her dominant run in the Pro AM Women’s class at the Grand Prix de Ski-Doo Valcourt, completing a weekend sweep with another commanding victory on Sunday. After receiving her first-place trophy on Saturday from legendary rider Meghan Brodeur, Cottew backed up the honor with a flawless performance, showcasing both her speed and endurance on the demanding track. She extends her championship lead with her fourth straight win, solidifying her status as the rider to beat in the division.

“That sled has been ripping all weekend. She’s just been a beast out there,” said Cottew. “Get a good holeshot and just kind of see clear out there and do my thing.”

Behind Cottew, the battle for second mirrored Saturday’s intense showdown between Inanna Hauger and Cerissa Blessum. Blessum once again held the position early, but Hauger found her rhythm late, making another strong push to reclaim second place. Their back-and-forth fight kept fans on the edge of their seats, but the final result remained unchanged, with Hauger finishing runner-up and Blessum rounding out the podium in third.

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