AMSOIL Racing - News > Team AMSOIL Takes Charge in Valcourt

Team AMSOIL Takes Charge in Valcourt

February 23, 2012

As the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series prepares for its return to action this weekend in Eastern New York, the AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports team headed north of the border for a non-points race and a Ski-Doo backed shoot-out.

The Grand Prix Ski Doo de Valcourt is one of the largest snowmobile races in the world and is held in the back yard of BRP, the parent company of Ski Doo snowmobiles. Being a Ski Doo backed race program, the AMSOIL team heads to the small Quebec city every year for the annual event.

An estimated crowd of 30,000 packed around the purpose built venue to watch a full weekend of ice oval racing and snocross. Leading the way through qualifying were Team AMSOIL riders Robbie Malinoski and Darrin Mees. Both riders won their qualifying heats to be the top two qualifiers for the final.

In the main event, Malinoski came out of the tight first turn with the lead and Mees in tow in the second spot. Malinoski never relinquished that early lead, going on to win by almost ten seconds.

"It's great to make the trip up to Valcourt and even better to pick up a win in front of the Ski Doo crowd," said Malinoski. "We had a pretty good weekend and hopefully this win will start the momentum we need to run for the championship in the AMSOIL series."

Mees, on the other hand, had to overcome a bit of adversity on his way to a podium finish of third. With four laps to go, Mees held onto the runner-up position behind Malinoski. ACSS round seven winner Tim Trembley was close behind, and at one point, got a little too close. Trembley over-jumped a section and landed on the rear of Mees' snowmobile, damaging the heat exchanger. Mees completed the final four laps with no anti-freeze left in his cooling system, but was able to hold on to the final podium position.

"Darrin did a heck of a job running without coolant," said team owner Steve Scheuring. "That's a great testimonial about how well AMSOIL works, even after something goofy happens that can burn down a motor. It was a good weekend and now its time to get after a championship in New York."

The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series returns to action on Friday and Saturday in Farmington, N.Y. Both days of racing will be available via live stream at www.amsoilracing.com.