Team LaVallee Adds Bester, Peterson; Mason Is Out

As Haydays approaches, news keeps trickling out of the snocross racing scene as teams prep for the coming winter. This just in from Team LaVallee: One of the sport’s most exciting up-and-coming racers has been added to their Polaris supertream, and another top affiliate racer is moving into the team’s semi. To make room, however, another racer of note has been cast out on his own.

The up-and-comer is Ryley Bester of Prior Lake, Minnesota. He turns 18 on the Friday of Haydays weekend (Sept. 6). Bester has been racing since the age of 4 and has been winning races and points championships all the way up through the ranks. Most people will associate him with Team Arctic Cat as he came up through the Juniors, Sport and Pro-Lite classes, though we remember taking pictures of Bester on a Polaris 120 way, way, way back in the day, so the red and black sleds aren’t entirely foreign to his existence.   

Ryley Bester
Ryley Bester earned a victory in his first-ever Pro-Lite final at Duluth, Minnesota, in November, 2018.

Last year as a rookie in the class, Bester finished seventh overall in the season points on the ISOC Amsoil Championship Series and won two finals – including his very first Pro-Lite event in Duluth, Minnesota, last November when with Frattalone Racing.  

Moving into the semi after racing as an affiliate racer last year is Adam Peterson of Medford, Wisconsin. Like Bester, Peterson was a rookie last year in the Pro-Lite class, but his breakthrough win came at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, in January. He finished the season sixth in points in Pro-Lite.

Staying an affiliate is Evan Daudt of Longville, Minnesota. This will be his third year in the Pro-Lite ranks – a class in which he finished ninth in points last year. However, that number is skewed slightly by the fact that he actually raced in the Pro class one night at the season-finale weekend in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, last March, qualifying for the final and finishing 12th against the best racers in the world.

Adam Peterson
Adam Peterson earned his first Pro-Lite win in January 2019. Photo from the ISOC race circuit.

Kyle Pallin of Ironwood, Michigan, remains at the top of the LaVallee ticket. The popular Pro class racer has collected a couple of big wins aboard Polaris snowmobiles over the years and finished last year ninth overall in points, with two visits to the podium.

Cast free, meanwhile, is Zak Mason. The Gaylord, Michigan, native has been a force in the Pro-Lite class for several years but has had some season points championship hopes dashed by unfortunate injuries – including last year, when his season ended after one weekend.

Don’t, however, count Mason out – in fact, he’s bumping up to the Pro class. On social media, he wrote, “Hey Race Fans! With the recent announcement of my departure from Team LaVallee, I wanted to let all of you know that I will still be racing in this upcoming 2019-2020 season with Polaris Snowmobiles in the Pro Class. I am headed back to my roots with my original sponsors Diesel FreakSTUD BOY Traction and working on details for a few additional key sponsorships…  I am not turning my back on this sport yet. I have been knocked down many times, but I will keep getting back up.”

Here’s the full press release from Team LaVallee:

Team LaVallee 2020 Snocross Line Up

Longville MN (August 16, 2019) – It might be sunny and 80 degrees this weekend in central Minnesota but we are thinking winter and day-dreaming of snow! Team LaVallee is excited to announce and welcome back some familiar names and new faces to the Team LaVallee 2020 line up. 

In the Pro Class Team LaVallee is welcoming back Pro Rider Kyle Pallin. This will be Pallin’s 8th season with Team LaVallee. 

After a great rookie season in the Pro Lite class last season we are excited to move Adam Peterson into the semi to join Kyle for 2020! Peterson has been a Team LaVallee affiliate rider for the past few years and after a very impactful rookie Pro Lite season, Peterson earned his spot next to Pallin.

Continuing its relationship with Team LaVallee is Pro Lite Rider, Evan Daudt. Daudt will be entering his 4th season as a Pro Lite rider and is eager for the upcoming season.

The new player in the Team LaVallee and to the Polaris camp is Pro Lite rider, Ryley Bester. Bester had a very impressive 2019 season with 2 wins (won his very first Pro Lite final he entered) and had great finishes all season placing him 7th overall in Pro Lite points.

“We at Team LaVallee are really looking forward to the upcoming 2020 Snocross Season. There will be some changes with long-time Pro Lite Rider, Zak Mason moving on and not returning under the Team LaVallee roster, but change can be a good thing. We look forward to Pallin coming back as our top Pro Rider and having Pro Lite rider, Adam Peterson run out of the trailer along side Pallin. Adam is smooth, yet hard charging rider who is not scared to go for it… I always like a guy that will go for it. Evan Daudt has the heart of a lion and if he can get rolling he will be a force in the pro lite class.  And adding Pro Lite phenom, Ryley Bester, to the team adds a lot of depth to our team. He had an outstanding rookie pro lite season winning 2 races and the thing we have to remember is he did that as a junior in high school! Few have found success in the Pro Lite class at such a young age which makes me excited to see him progress in his career. We have a great group of riders and I look forward to kicking off this season!” – Levi LaVallee

Team LaVallee riders will all be present at the upcoming “Official Kick Off to Winter” at the Sno Barons Hay Days in North Branch, MN in early September. We’ll see you there!

PRO / PALLIN

• 2018/2019 Pro: 9th Place (Overall)

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• Voted ISOC Fan Favorite (2016, 2017)

• 2 podium finishes (2019 season)

• 24 Pro podium finishes (overall)

• 9th year racing pro

• One to watch for 2020

PRO LITE / PETERSON

• 2018/2019 Pro Lite: 6th Place (Overall)

• Pro Lite Rookie Season

• 1 Pro Lite Win

• 3 Pro Lite Podiums
• 1st Year Racing Pro Lite

PRO LITE / DAUDT

• 2018/2019 Pro Lite: 9th Place (Overall)

• 2 Wins in Rookie Season (2017)

• Voted Most Improved Racer (2017)

• 3rd Year Racing Pro Lite

PRO LITE / BESTER

• 2018/2019 Pro Lite: 7th Place (Overall)

• Pro Lite Rookie Season

• 2 Pro Lite Win

• 3 Pro Lite Podiums

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