Two National Championships Cinched at CSRA Grand Finale

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Troy Karkoulas

[POST RACE REPORT]

Oakwood, ON (April 2, 2019) – When one looks at the notoriety of a National Championship Snowcross title, it’s important to recognize that earning this title is not all about the skill, it’s also about the will. It’s about being determined, and testing oneself to their max and then some. This past season, all three racers on Karkoulas Sisters Racing (“KSR”) demonstrated their dedication to become crowned champions.

Brooklyn #500 defended her Championship title in Junior girls with an almost clean sweep this season. Dakota #501 echoed this accomplishment, defending her National Championship title in Transition Girls. Only Dakota was able to take the checkered in each and every moto in the class. The team’s success did not end with those two stellar accomplishments though. Dakota was able to earn a second place overall in Championship points in the Transition 2 mixed class and the team’s youngest racer, Zoe #502, had a break out year earning second overall in the Transition 1 mixed class. The team owes much of their success, in what is most arguably their most accomplished season to date, to the support of their many sponsors, including Bailey Motorsports, and the Compound Muskoka for creating an incredible practice track for the girls to hone in on technical skills and training.

Since entering the point’s race in the sport of Snowcross by racing full seasons, the last weekend of racing has always been one filled with nerves and anxiety. Previous years has seen the girls entering mere points between fellow competitors in the race for Championship titles. However, as a result of KSR’s efforts and dedication to practice, the team saw consistent results all season long with little breathing room in the points lead as they headed into the final race weekend.

Brooklyn #500

Brooklyn shifted her attention from the girl’s class to proving herself against the boys. The last couple of races saw the racer achieving top five but she felt she had more to give. That’s exactly what she exemplified this final weekend, even taking the checkered in several Motos. Overall she accomplished a podium finnish both days with a third place on Saturday in the Mystik Lubricants National and a second place on Sunday in the Dayco National Finals, both held at the Horseshoe Resort in Barrie, Ontario. Overall she achieved fourth place in the National Championship Junior 1. Of notable mention, Brooklyn made a decision a few races into the series to register for the Pro/Am Woman’s class to give her some seat time each day before her Junior 1 races. Never did she expect the outcome in this class, where she was the top racer for first place finishes, with 6 wins, just missing the podium by 6 points!

Dakota #501

Dakota had a far smoother and consistent race season this year thanks to more seat time at the Compound Muskoka. She showed a real competitive edge taking the checkered in all Transition Girl’s motos and many Transition 2 motos all season long, but the best times to watch the young rider was this past weekend when she had a few bad starts and dug deep to make up places earning a third Saturday and second Sunday. Her riding style as she passed sled after sled was calculated and fierce as she maneuvered her sled through the large group. Dakota is so excited for not only defending her Championship in Transition Girls, but to don a dress and stand between the first and third place young gentleman on the Transition 2 podium in the series upcoming awards banquet, demonstrating girls can ride too!

Zoe #502

KSR’s most improved award goes to…. Zoe! This 9 year old shocked many this season, with her improvement in riding, control and fierceness off the starting line. Zoe is known for always having a big smile on her face and the member of KSR who keeps things light, win or lose. However, she certainly aimed for the wins this season. After several moto checkers early in the season, Zoe was bitten by the competitiveness bug and set her sights on podium finishes throughout the season in both Transition Girls and Transition 1 mixed class. Going into the final race weekend at Horseshoe Resort was met with trepidation for the young rider after sustaining a minor foot fracture at this same venue in last season’s finale. She was however able to get into the right mindset and had her best weekend of racing earning a third place in Transition girls on Sunday and a second in the Transition 1 final the same day. This earned her a second place overall in National Championship points!

Bailey Motorsports

KSR would like to also give a huge shout out and congratulations to the BAILEY MOTORSPORTS team who earned the National Championship titles in the Pro 450 Snow Bike Class by Yannick Boucher #53 and in the Sport 450 Snow Bike Class with Ryan Hunt #729. Team member Shawn Marinoff #981 took the third overall in the same class. Well done gentleman! Lastly, KSR would like to congratulate fellow Transition Girls and Transition 1 rider Hailey Belanger #574 for a stellar start to her season and overcoming an injury to make it back on the track for the last couple of race weekends.

Thanks to all of our friends, family, and fans who have support KSR racers this season. It’s been a great one, and we can’t wait to return to the track later this year!

KSR would like to thank the following sponsors for their support as well: BAILEY MOTORSPORTS, Sunoco Racing, HMK USA, Lucas Oil, Off Road Vixens, Backwoods Promotions Inc., Backcountry Motorsports Media, Troy Lee Designs, TEAMLTD, DEFT FAMILY, Flybyu Motorsports, STUD BOY Traction, St-Onge Recreation, Dayco, WTD Gloves, Rox Speed FX, Inc., C&A Pro Skis, Scott Sports Canada, The Compound – Muskoka, Tekrider TekVest, Laps for Muscular Dystrophy, Ski-Doo

RESULTS: To see full results for both KSR & Bailey Motorsports, visit http://snowcross.com/results-points/

Most Single Weekend Podiums for Karkoulas Sisters Racing!

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Troy Karkoulas

[POST RACE REPORT]

Oakwood, ON (March 4, 2019) – What do you get when you have unlimited access to massive amounts of snow? Well Karkoulas Sisters Racing (KSR) sure found out when they arrived in Timmins, Ontario for the Eclipse Financial Cup March 2nd and 3rd. Racers were greeted by a massive, technical track unlike any they have raced on before. Equipped with multiple challenging elements including a complete 180 degree corner, step-up jump section and of course a crowd pleasing table top, Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA) in partnership with Angela Vacchino pulled out all the stops to put on a great event. This event is always one of the most exciting events the team attends as the city of Timmins welcomes the snowcross community with open arms.

While the event is always jam packed with fun, the KSR team entered this race weekend with a little trepidation. Luck has not always been on the team’s side at this particular track. Last year, Brooklyn #500 blew up her machine in a final race and Dakota #501 had to bail off her machine quickly which left her with a broken steering rod and other damage.

It looked like that luck was going to carry over this year, when Brooklyn, riding for BAILEY MOTORSPORTS while leading the pack, found herself hit from behind in a tricky corner and thrown from her sled in her very first moto out in Pro-Am women. This would not be the last time she found herself in the snow for the day but thankfully some clean solid races in the Junior Girls class earned her a first place finish for the day, and left her hopeful for a better Sunday. Under sunny skies and brisk temps, Sunday was a much better day for Brooklyn, which saw her sweeping both Pro-Am Women and Junior Girls. The Junior 1 class saw her riding more consistently and smoothly but lagged a bit with the air time other riders garnered causing her to lose a spot or two. Overall, she was pleased with placing third for the combined moto points of the day and knows exactly where improvements and growth can be made.

Dakota #501 had a great weekend of racing, continuing her consistent riding and results. Her clutching was certainly on point, as were her reaction times, which lead the young rider to earning two hole shot awards for both Transition Girls and Transition 2. She swept the Transition Girls class for the weekend and had a solid second place finish in Junior Girls Saturday and a third place finish on Sunday after a wobble off a kicker that left her in the snow. Transition 2 she was consistent in her starts and had multiple moto wins and strong finals earning second both days in this full, competitive class.

It was a historical weekend for the team’s youngest rider, nine year old Zoe #502 when she earned a first place in Transition 1 on Sunday (for the first time ever). It was a transponder line finish when she and another young racer drag raced down the final stretch. To say she was ecstatic is an understatement, especially when she learned she had earned the win by just milliseconds. What made this event special were interviews for the winners as they came off the track, with announcer Dave Bell. Zoe was most definitely the most talkative of the three sisters, as she tends to give honest, genuine and sometimes comical answers in her post win interviews. Thank you Dave Bell for giving the girls the opportunity to thank all of the KSR team sponsors who make this possible. Zoe rode well in her Transition Girls class as well earning forth place finish both days. She has certainly come leaps and bounds this season in her speed, handling and confidence.

KSR would like to extend congratulations to team members of Bailey Motorsports Yannick Boucher #53 and Ryan Hunt #729 for once again sweeping the Pro 450 Snow Bike class and Sport 450 Snow Bike class respectively. Further to his Snow Bike racing, Ryan Hunt also had solid top 3 finishes in his Pro class motos both days. Unfortunately in his final on Sunday, while racing hard in top five he had an incident that left him unseated from his sled and unable to finish out the race. The team is hoping the two week break in the schedule will see him healed and ready to take on the last two races of the series.

One final thank you and shout out goes to Bobby Hogg CSRA’s “tech guy”. We know it’s not an easy job when we are running in during finals shouting names and numbers of our racers who are unable to tech with back to back races. We give you keys while switching between Transition and Junior set-ups, and yet you always seem to have it marked and together. Well done!

KSR would like to thank the following sponsors for this support: BAILEY MOTORSPORTS, Ski-Doo, Sunoco Racing, HMK USA, Lucas Oil, Backwoods Promotions Inc., Backcountry Motorsports Media, Off Road Vixens, Troy Lee Designs, TEAMLTD, DEFT FAMILY, Flybyu Motorsports, STUD BOY Traction, St-Onge Recreation, Dayco, WTD Gloves, Rox Speed FX, Inc., C&A Pro Skis, SCOTT Sports, Scott Sports Canada, The Compound – Muskoka, Tekvest, Laps for Muscular Dystrophy

RESULTS: To see full results for both KSR & Bailey Motorsports, visit www.snowcross.com/race-results

Multiple Podiums Clinched in Barrie for Karkoulas Sisters Racing – KSR

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Troy Karkoulas

[POST RACE REPORT]

Oakwood, ON (February 26, 2019) – Karkoulas Sisters Racing (KSR) competed at the Georgian Downs in Barrie, Ontario on February 23 and 24 for the Royal Distributing Cup. Always a fan favorite location, this venue boasts indoor seating and an opportunity to visit the casino during race program breaks. It certainly makes for packed stands and plenty of opportunity to showcase snowcross talent from across Canada.

Zoe Karkoulas #502 had a slower start to her race weekend after some minor miscommunications with her pit crew, but by the time the finals rolled around she had the track figured out and rode a “Zoe race” as she called it, right to second place in Novice 8-10. She went on to repeat this result on Sunday, making this her best finish in that class this season. Consistent riding in the Transition Girls class had her earn top four both days.

Dakota #501 was seen throughout the weekend in the staging area, bouncing on her running boards with excitement while saying, “let’s go racing”. She enjoyed the expanse of the track and the many whoops and jumps it contained. Her enthusiasm showed in her riding and results that weekend. She dominated the Transition Girls class with a clean sweep while enjoying the ride the entire time. In Transition 2 she had strong motos and went on to finish third on the Saturday final race and second in Sunday’s final. This weekend was a little different for Dakota as she decided she would like to try out the Junior Girls class. With a quick key change, she headed out both days earning second place finish, hot on her sister Brooklyn’s snow flap.

Brooklyn #500 had a solid weekend on her 2019 Ski-Doo RS riding for BAILEY MOTORSPORTS. She started the weekend off trying out the CSRA Pro-Am Women’s class and earned herself a first place in the class. This marked the first of what she hopes will be many top finishes, in the years to come when she transitions to that category. Sunday in the same class saw her bail in her first moto, but much to her parents surprise and pride, she jumped up, ran back to her sled, tethered up and with one pull was back in the race going from last up to third. Her second moto she place first and with combined points was enough to cinch first place for a second time that weekend in Pro-Am Women class. Junior 1 saw Brooklyn battling fiercely with her competitors in very close position battles. Both days she earned a fourth place finish. Moving forward, Brooklyn wants to improve in this class by focusing on putting in some practice on starts to try to get ahead of the competitive pack from the beginning. The Junior Girls class was a great success for Brooklyn this weekend taking first place both days. It was heartwarming to see her stop at the end of the second moto and fist bump her younger sister Dakota for her well-earned second position.

Much to the racers approval, the race program for the kids was completed before the pro show began affording the team some stress free time to cheer on the Bailey Motorsports riders. This was a weekend for the teams Snow Bike domination! Yannick Boucher #53 ruled the Pro 450 class going undefeated. Ryan Hunt #729 took top spot in the Sport 450 category followed by affiliated team member Shawn Marinoff #981 both days. Congrats boys!