Valcourt, Québec, February 18, 2011. - Gary Moyle of Houghton, Michigan won Friday's opening Pro Champ 440 race, the opening round of the SCM Eastern Pro Tour finale at the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by La Capitale General Insurance.
The two-time snowmobile World Champion, who currently holds second place in the TLR Cup championships series, was handed the win after Malcolm Chartier of Fair Haven, Michigan was disqualified after his snowmobile was found to be under the weight limit. Dan Fenhaus of Wausau, Wisconsin finish second ahead of Nicholas Van Strydonk, last year grand winner at the Grand Prix of Valcourt. Fourth place went to 19 years old Nick Lagoy of Morrisonville, NY ahead of Jason Lavallée of Drummondville, QC.
In the first qualifying wave, Jacques Villeneuve violently went off course on the last lap of his qualifying group while running in second place. The Quebec rider seriously damaged the front end of his Ski-Doo snowmobile when he went through the hay bales of corner after something seems to have broken in his front suspension. His accident prevented him from running in the first Pro Champ finale of the weekend.
Camoplast Snocross Championship: In the Camoplast SCM Snocross Championship, Shan Pépin of Sainte-Julie (QC) moved passed Jennifer Paré of La Doré (QC) on lap six of nine to win the snocross Sports 600 class race. Leo Patenaude of Hartland, Vermont finished third.
In the Pro Open 600, Emil Ahman of Sweden crossed the finish line ahead of Quebec rider Tim Tremblay and Brett Turcotte of Clearwater, British Columbia to sweep a podium finish for the U.S. based ISOC Series. Danny Poirier of Saint-Théodore d'Acton (QC), a regular in the East Coast Snocross Series, finished fourth ahead of two other ECS regulars, Matt Piche of Port Jefferson (NY) and Matt Morin of Val d'Or (QC). This results could be a preview of the big one on Sunday.
The Grand Prix of Valcourt continues Saturday with 14 Eastern Pro Tour ice oval finales and three final rounds of the Camoplast Snocross Championship. Motocross and ATV riders will make their first run of the weekend at the Grand Prix of the weekend.
Photo 01 Snocross Action.jpg:
In the Pro Open 600, Emil Ahman (#27) of Sweden crossed the finish line ahead of Quebec rider Tim Tremblay (#11) and Brett Turcotte (#16) of Clearwater, British Columbia to sweep a podium finish for the U.S. based ISOC Series.
Photo Credit: François Cominardi / Sport Moteur
Photo 02 Ice Oval Action.jpg:
Gary Moyle of Houghton, Michigan (#66us) won Friday's opening Pro Champ 440 race, the opening round of the SCM Eastern Pro Tour finale at the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt.
Photo Credit: François Cominardi / Sport Moteur
From Max d'Orsonnens
