Presented by Woody’s Traction and FXR
Jacquier, Levi split Pro Lite finals in Maine
HERMON, Maine (Jan 28, 2019) – Veteran Pro rider Mike Pilotte swept the Pro class finals over the weekend, while rising stars Dalton Jacquier and Adam Levi split top honors in Pro Lite as East Coast Snocross (ECS) completed Rounds 3 and 4 at Speedway 95.
Pilotte (Team Southside/Polaris), of Fall River, Mass., powered his way to a win in Saturday’s grueling 18-lap final in dominant fashion. His margin of victory over runner-up Dylan Roes (D&D Racing\Arctic Cat) was an impressive 21 seconds, while Matt Simonson filled out the podium in third.
On Sunday, a few Pro Lite riders moved up to challenge the Pro riders and made their mark. Vermont veteran Wade Acker (Team Southside/Polaris) chased Pilotte across the line in second, while Adam Ashline (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) put in a strong performance to secure third.
“All in all it was a great weekend,” Pilotte said. “I struggled quite a bit with the stints in my nose because I was fresh out of nose surgery. I did get a second in one heat on Saturday, so it’s wasn’t a clean sweep like the first race, but I’m still very happy.
“The track up there was a lot of fun with some big jumps, and the Maine fans loved it. Every weekend, Bruce Gaspardi Sr. from Team Southside/Polaris gets my sled set up better and better. We’re still working the bugs out of this new chassis and suspension, but we are getting there.”
Jacquier had the crowd on its feet as he worked to fend off a hard-charging Acker on the final lap of Saturday’s Pro Lite final. The Connecticut native barely held on for the win as Acker fell just .003 seconds short at the finish. Adam Levi, of Inlet, New York, filled out the podium in third.
On Sunday, Levi found redemption as he outgunned Jacquier for top honors by a full three seconds. Tucker Kierstead (D&D Racing/Arctic Cat) stepped up his program to secure third at the line. The Pro Lite athletes are turning in some impressive lap times in 2019, honing their skills each time out.
“I have been feeling great on my sled,” Jacquier said. “Dale Roes at D&D Racing has it dialed in perfectly and gets me out front right off the start. I’m starting to gain some confidence and hoping to keep getting faster as we get further into the season. I’m very fortunate for the people I have helping me out, I couldn’t do it without them.”
Theresa Max (SBT Racing/Ski-doo) pulled off a clean sweep in Pro Women action at Speedway 95. The skilled racer from Pennsylvania held off New York-based veteran Cassidy Kislowski for top honors on Saturday and Sunday, with Ashley Baird (Team Southside/Polaris) filling out the podium in third.
In Sport action over the weekend, Gavin Fleury and Travis Emery split the finals. Fleury, of Ticonderoga, NY, won Saturday’s six-lap tilt over Emery and Kolton Gillilan, while Emery held off Dylan Holmes and Gillilan for top honors on Sunday. Gillilan claimed the Sport Stock 600 Weekend final over Holmes and Brandon Gray.
Other final round winners overt the weekend in Maine include Dustin Tracy (Plus 35 Pro Am Saturday and Sunday); Joe Pelletier (Plus 25/35 Saturday); Garrett Powell (Plus 25/35 Sunday); Jake Boutwell (Jr. 14-15 Sat. and Sun., Jr. 16-17 Saturday); Kolton Gillilan (Jr. 16-17 Sunday); Steven Max (Jr. Sport 12-15 Sat., Jr. Novice 10-13 Saturday); and Josh Connolly (Jr. Sport 12-15 Sun., Jr. Nov. 10-13 Sunday).
East Coast Snocross officials would like to thank Jennifer Khavari and the Eastern Maine Community College Foundation for making our fifth annual event in Maine possible. Series owners also extend a sincere thanks to local sponsors Dysart’s, Darling’s Auto and Lane Construction for their support.
Next up for the series is a break from snocross to sanction the popular Ice Drag competition this Sat., Feb. 2, at Million Dollar Beach in Lake George, New York. The event is part of the town’s annual Winter Carnival, and ECS will take part again on Feb. 9-10 in Warrensburg, NY, at the Warrensburg Fairgrounds for Rounds 5 and 6 on the 2019 schedule.
East Coast Snocross, presented by Woody’s Traction and FXR, is an ISR-affiliated sanctioning body for snowmobile racing in the northeastern United States. ECS maintains a regional circuit intended to keep grassroots snocross racing healthy in this part of the country while cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed national Pro teams.
For full results from Speedway 95 or to learn more, go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.
