[POST RACE REPORT]

12th Annual Royal Distributing Cup in Innisfil

Oakwood, ON (February 19, 2020) – Georgian Downs Race Track and Casino in Innisfil, Ontario, was the site for another successful round of racing for Karkoulas Sisters Racing Team.   It was a pleasant experience to be met with warmer temperatures and sunshine for this Family Day weekend, which was full of competition at a location historically known for being bitter cold with high winds.  KSR racers suited up and headed out to practice early Saturday morning and turned on race mode for the remainder of the weekend.

Zoe #502

Zoe struggled most of the weekend with hitting the green light, making for some impressive riding to make some passes and work her way up the pack.  Used to softer snow and technical tracks, the hard pack track the team experienced on Saturday saw Zoe having to adjust her riding style and work to keep up with the front of the pack.  She achieved third place in Transition Girls, but didn’t make it to tech for the Novice 8-10 race. As a result, she was happy to put the day behind her and focus on Sunday’s competition, coming out strong from the start. With milder temperatures on Sunday, the track was softer and more to Zoe’s preference. Her results showed it, with her going 2:2 in Transition Girls and earning a fourth place overall in Novice 8-10. 

Dakota #501

If there was an award for perseverance, Dakota would have earned it without contest for her grit in competition while battling fevers, chills, sore throat and cough… a likely flu.  Given the option both days to sit out this round, without hesitation she shook her head no and with pure determination, she donned her helmet and took her seat on her 2020 Ski-Doo RS.  The day started rough to say the least. When on her first race (Jr Girls), in the first corner she hit some ice and drove off the track, hitting a flag and barrel in the process of re-entering the track.  True to her form, she entered back on the track over half a lap down, and yet she pushed her limits and was able to make up massive time earning her a second place finish. This set her up nicely for her second moto, in which she captured the checkered and continued her first place streak in the class. 

In her second race, Junior 14-17, Dakota’s “hot start” button was stuck down leaving her at a standstill on the line as she watched her competition race off, leaving her in their roost.  Once her sled engaged, she again was forced to make up time in a mere three lap race but succeeded in crossing the line in fourth.  The second moto she achieved 3^rd giving her a combined moto final of 3^rd place and a spot on the podium.  Sunday saw her feeling even worse than Saturday but determined to get her four races in.  More consistent riding for her, saw her going 1:1 in Junior girls and 3:3 in Junior 14-17, again making podium in both classes. 

Brooklyn #500

KSR’s eldest rider, Brooklyn, had consistent results in Pro Women going 1:1 both days lifting her skis high in the whoop section to make the pass for first.  Sport 600 presented a challenge this weekend. Brooklyn had an outstanding start in the class on Saturday, and lead the race for several laps, coming across the finish line in second place. This put her in a good position for the second moto. Unfortunately, she bobbled in the corner losing control, and with little room between riders, she was unavoidably hit from behind by another rider.  With sheer fortitude she got back on her sled and finished out the race returning to the trailer with bruised and swollen fingers that were clearly protected from a burn by her Deft Family gloves.  Sunday the team decided to have Brooklyn sit the Sport Class out until more comfort and execution of large doubles could be achieved.

Bailey Motorsports

Lunch break on Sunday gave the entire Bailey Motorsports Team an opportunity to come together for a group photo.  Who knew at that point that that team would achieve a notable total of 18 podiums in this round of competition?  Well done to all the riders who contributed to those amazing results and special congratulations to Ryan Hunt #729 for winning the Top Gun Shoot out Saturday night, coming home with a $5000 award and impressive bragging rights.

KSR would like to thank the following sponsors for this support: BAILEY MOTORSPORTS, Ski-Doo, Motul, Sunoco Racing, HMK USA, 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, 139 designs, Clean Media, Laps for Muscular Dystrophy.

RESULTS: To see full results for the CSRA Series, visit: http://snowcross.com/results-points/

FOLLOW US: @KSRsnowcross (Twitter & Instagram)

[POST RACE REPORT]

Oakwood, ON (February 10, 2020) – Three riders, three classes, three podiums made for an unexpected but welcome outcome at the esteemed Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt this past weekend. This Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA) / SCMX snocrossco-sanctioned event features riders from Canada, USA, Norway and Finland, and is best known for its massive crowd-pleasing finish line jump. Plus, the weekend offers a spectacular event for riders and spectators alike. With unending access to the often elusive white stuff (in fact, so much snow that racing was cancelled on Friday due to visibility concerns), track designer(s) were able to create one of the best tracks the team has had the pleasure to compete on. Rhythm sections, jumps and cornering options had the riders showcasing their strengths and abilities right to the podium.

Zoe #502
Saturday saw the two youngest racers of the team divided between the transition track and the main track. Zoe and her Mom headed off together to tackle the dedicated track to 120cc and Transition riders. This particular track geared to 120 racers was a race off the line track for the young racer with extremely limited passing options. Zoe struggled in her races with too much throttle, being used to larger technical tracks, causing her to overshoot the first nearly 180 corner. Somehow in her final she was able to calculate two successful passes on a very narrow, nearly single lane track to come away with a second place finish. A podium celebration, impressive plaque and a celebratory “beavertail” ended off the day for the young racer.

Dakota #501
The same day on the main track Dakota (age 13) rode like a boss against an entire field of boys in the Junior 14-15 class. The skill of these young riders never ceases to amaze us, and Dakota’s ability to rise to the competition is impressive. Saturday afternoon Dakota lined up to go green and pushed her limits the entire race, smoothly hitting doubles and speeding through the rhythm section right up until her favourite part of the course – the massive finish line jump. Each lap saw the young rider hitting it faster and farther, a difficult view for her Mom to handle. After all the effort put forth, Dakota was thrilled to take a spot on the podium achieving a third place finish. Although ecstatic with her finish, Dakota returned to the trailer melancholy as that race marked the end of her GPS de-Valcourt experience for the year and she was not ready to be done. Claiming the track was her all-time favorite, she snuck out early Sunday morning during the practice session just to experience it one last time. Her enthusiasm for competition at the GPS de Valcourt was a stark reminder for her parents of what all the hard work and preparation is for.

Brooklyn #500
Sunday saw the team up with the sun for an early morning start to the final day of competition. This time it was the team’s Pro/Am Women racer Brooklyn’s turn to take the track on her 2020 Ski-Doo RS. A solid first moto saw the rider cross in fourth position, a good start to the day. The second moto, Brooklyn took to the track with goals to try different lines and increase speed in approaching the taunting finish line jump in preparation for the final. Unfortunately, in the first corner on the first lap, Brooklyn tangled with another rider and ended up being tossed off the sled. With rapid execution she was able to get back on, start it up and make up lots of time before the checkered flag, coming across in sixth. Later Sunday afternoon, the second last Snowcross race of the program, the Pro Dames lined up for their final. Undeterred from her previous moto unseating, Brooklyn hit the green and dug deep having one of her best rides to date. From the very first corner, mom stated she could feel Brooklyn’s determination right from the viewing platform. Brooklyn approached the jumps and rhythm sections with full commitment maneuvering her sled like an expert. After a solid ride and a few tense moments when approaching lap traffic in the final lap of the race Brooklyn earned her place on the podium in the third position. Coming off the track, Brooklyn’s smile and enthusiasm could be seen beneath her helmet many feet away. Physically exhausted from pushing the limits, Brooklyn was mentally ecstatic.

Bailey Motorsports
KSR would like to extend congratulations to BAILEY MOTORSPORTS Pro Snow Bike riders Yanick Boucher for his first place domination and Ryan Hunt for his third place final in the event. Lastly, congratulations to Hailey Belanger for solid rides in her Pro Dame motos on Sunday, and first time full throttle.

KSR would like to thank the following sponsors for this support: BAILEY MOTORSPORTS, Ski-Doo, Motul, Sunoco Racing, HMK USA, 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 Canada, SCOTT Sports, The Compound – Muskoka, Tekvest, 139designs, Clean Media, Laps for Muscular Dystrophy

RESULTS: To see full results for the CSRA Series, visit: http://snowcross.com/results-points/

FOLLOW US: @KSRsnowcross (Twitter & Instagram)

POST RACE REPORT

Karkoulas Sisters Racing Achieves Podium Finishes

Oakwood, ON (January 9, 2020) – This past weekend marked the official start to the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA) racing season in Bracebridge, Ontario. This Regional race was held at the impressive “The Compound Muskoka” a riding and practise facility equipped with plenty of snow for a technical and demanding track.

Zoe #502

The two younger KSR racers, Dakota (No. 501) and Zoe (No. 502) raced in 4 classes over the weekend. Zoe, age 10, is the final KSR rider racing in the Transition categories for the 2020 season, racing both Transition 1 (8-10) and Transition Girls (8-13). Zoe was full of pre-season butterflies not yet having the opportunity to line up on a starting line this season. Despite this, she was quick to harness those butterflies and turn ‘beast mode’ on when it came time to race. Zoe lined up for her first race of the day, hit a perfect starting light to take the hole shot, and lead the race from flag to flag. When it came time for her second moto of that class, she did a perfect repeat to go 1-1 in Transition girls and take the overall win. Zoe had a great start in the Transition 1 as well, getting 2nd in the first moto and after a battle into a corner on the first lap found her off the track, she rode hard to work her way back up through the pack to 5th. The combined motos was good enough for Zoe to earn a starting position on the front row of the final. With 15 sleds in the final there was little room for error. Zoe rode fast and smart and had a great battle with a fellow racer for most of the final race. In the end, Zoe found herself capturing a podium spot and impressive 3rd place finish.

Dakota #501

Dakota, age 13, came to the track still beaming from her ISOC win in November at the Duluth National and was ready to start racing in Canada. This season Dakota has decided to challenge herself and move up to the Junior ranks, specifically Junior Girls (14-17) and Junior (14-17). Not to be out done by her “little” sister, Dakota repeated Zoe’s results by winning Junior Girl with flag to flag wins in both motos. She lined up in her Junior mixed class motos on her 2020 Ski-Doo 600 RS ready to prove she belongs out there with the boys. Off of the line she found herself in 2nd in both motos and held the position to the checkered both times, earning a 2nd place overall finish.

Bailey Motorsports

This weekend had most of the Bailey Motorsports racers out on the track. Ryan Hunt and Yanick Boucher were racing Snowbikes, with Ryan winning 2nd at the CSRA race, while Yanick had 3 days of racing the ISOC series with a 3rd place podium finish on Sunday. Hailey Belanger raced her Ski-Doo snowmobile to double 2nd place finishes taking 2nd in both Transition and Junior Girls classes. Brooklyn (No. 500) did not have any race events this weekend but looks forward to some more preparation time before the National season opener scheduled for February 1/2 in KSR’s hometown Lindsay, ON. Check out the full Bailey Motorsports recap at Baileymotorsports.ca

KSR would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: BAILEY MOTORSPORTS, Ski-Doo, Motul, Sunoco Racing, HMK USA, 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, 139 designs, Clean Media, Laps for Muscular Dystrophy.

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

ISOC RESULTS: To see full results for the ISOC Series, visit: https://snocross.com/national/results/

FOLLOW US: @KSRsnowcross (Twitter & Instagram)