In a year with a fair amount of change within snowmobile snocross racing, Team LaVallee is bringing back the same cast of characters. But there is still big and notable news from the Minnesota-based Polaris team.
On August 8, Team LaVallee made official what many insiders knew was coming. Pro-Lite hotshoe Ryley Bester is moving up to the Pro class to challenge the best the sport can offer. That includes his teammate Adam Peterson. He also returns to Team LaVallee on a multi-year contract, according to the team’s press release. Combined, Team LaVallee has locked up to of the youngest Pro class racers and potential future stars.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the team is also bringing back defending Pro Am Plus 30 points champion Andy Lieders.
Let’s take a closer look at the team.
Pro Snocross: Peterson & Bester
Bester is moving up to the Pro class with an impressive resume. Though just 21, many have been watching his ascension through the ranks as he piled up victories in 120s, Juniors, Sport and Pro-Lite classes over the years.
The Prior Lake, Minnesota, native moved up to Pro Lite at age 18 when racing for the Frattalone Racing Arctic Cat team in the 2018-19 season. He jumped to Team LaVallee and Polaris in the fall of 2019 and has improved each year. In fact, last season he had one victory and nine second-place finishes in the Pro-Lite class. Only phenom Jorden Lebel could keep Bester out of victory lane. Lebel is also jumping up to the Pro class for 2023-24.
“I am super excited to take the next step in my snocross racing career and jump to the Pro class,” Bester said in a Team LaVallee press release. “Thankful I get the opportunity to continue working with Team LaVallee/Polaris/Red Bull. They have been a huge contributor to my success over the years and I’m looking forward to this next chapter!”
Peterson, 23, actually joined Team LaVallee at the same time as Bester in the fall of 2019. His rose through the ranks quickly, earning a Pro-Lite points title in 2020-21. He moved up to the Pro class in 2021-22 and earned three podiums and finished eighth in points. He was the Amsoil Championship Snocross circuit’s Rookie of the Year that year. Last season, he gained another podium and finished sixth in points. The Medford, Wisconsin, native has definitely shown flashes were he can run at the very front.
“I’m excited to continue my success with Team LaVallee in a multi-year Pro contract,” Peterson said in the press release. “The entire crew at Team LaVallee works hard but it’s a fun environment too. It’s perfect fit for me.”
A Snocross Veteran: Andy Lieders
With Andy Lieders, Team LaVallee is bringing back a respected veteran racers who has seemingly done it all. He has raced all the way up to the Pro class, seemingly semi-retired a few years back, and then showed up again competing in Pro-Lite and the Pro AM Plus 30 class.
In fact, at age 36, he mopped up in the that 30+ class last season, winning 6 of the 8 finals in which he competed. He also won 14 of the 15 heat races he entered. That made him the runaway Pro AM Plus 30 season points champ.
Here’s how Team LaVallee stated it in their press release:
“The long-time joke between the Lieders camp and Team LaVallee, is when is Andy going to be ‘done.’. Well, after his amazing results in not only in the Pro AM Plus 30 Class last year and giving the Pro Lite class a run for their money, it would be hard to call it quits. For Andy Lieders, it’s not just about racing on the weekends, it’s spending time with his family and still being able to have fun out on the track. Lieders season was nearly perfect in the Pro AM Plus 30 class (with 7 Podiums and being crowned the Pro AM Plus 30 Champion) and he’ll be back again for the upcoming season and you may see him in a Pro Lite race or two as well.”
Team LaVallee is co-owned by Levi LaVallee and Glenn Kafka. It is entering its 15th season.
