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BRP RECEIVES MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR SEA-DOO WATERCRAFT
SEA-DOO SPARK MODEL RECEIVES FIVE AWARDS – EXCEPTIONAL SO EARLY IN THE SEASON
Valcourt, QC, May 27, 2014 – Continuing the history of industry-leading product innovation and design, BRP recently won multiple awards for its 2014 Sea-Doo Spark watercraft in the areas of affordability, design and engineering.
The new Sea-Doo Spark watercraft is initiating an industry-wide progression to more affordable and accessible watercraft and is being recognized for this innovation across the industry. BRP received to date a Red Dot Award for high design quality, the Consumers Digest magazine’s Best Buy Award, the Boating Industry magazine’s Top Products Award, and the Edison Award for Innovation and Engineering, in addition to the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Innovation Award.
“The Sea-Doo Spark is clear proof that genuine innovation emerges as a response to challenging market conditions,” noted Frank Bonafilia, executive director, Edison Awards.
The Sea-Doo Spark watercraft features a nimble and compact design thanks to an all-new Exoskel architecture and the use of a new, lightweight, durable and recyclable Polytec material. The mould-injected process allowed BRP designers to implement new concepts in the area of shape and structure leading to a unique look and offering an equally refreshing way to play on the water.
“The bottom line—for the average rider—certainly the beginner – a 60-hp PWC that delivers top-end speeds in the low 40-mph (64-km/h) range will be more than enough to get the adrenaline flowing, based on our hands-on evaluation,” commented Consumers Digest.
The most accessible new watercraft on the market, the 2014 Sea-Doo Spark watercraft, costs nearly 40% less than its closest competitive model* and is the most fuel-efficient watercraft in the industry**.
The performance segment also claimed its share of awards with BRP’s Sea-Doo RXT 260 and RXP-X 260 models with respective Consumers Digest’s Performance Best Buy and Best in Class by PWCToday.com for the performance segment.
* Source: Based on US Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price announced on competitors’ websites
** Based on BRP internal testing and information on competitors’ websites
Polaris Hillclimbers Dominate at Crested Butte, Winning 9 of 12 Pro Classes and All Three Pro King of the Hill Crowns
Keith Curtis & Erin Beukelman Win Seven Pro Classes, All Three King Crowns
MEDINA, Minn. (April 14, 2014) – Polaris Terrain Domination® on the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb circuit continued at the Crested Butte (CO) Hillclimb on April 12-13, as Polaris hillclimbers won nine of 12 Pro classes – including all four Pro Stock classes – won all three Pro King of the Hill titles, won every Semi-Pro and Amateur class, and swept every podium position in three Semi-Pro classes.
Leading the way among Pro hillclimbers was Keith Curtis, who won four class titles and two King crowns, and Erin Beukelman, who won three class titles and Improved King of the Hill. Curtis won three Pro Stock classes and Luke Rainey won 700 Stock for a Polaris sweep of the Stock titles.
Pro Classes: Four Polaris Racers Win Class Titles
Polaris hillclimbers won all four Pro Stock classes at Crested Butte, and Keith Curtis won three of those, taking first place in 600 Stock, 800 Stock and 1000 Stock. He also won the 800 Mod class, and in the King of the Hill runoffs, he won the Stock crowns on his 800 Stock-winning sled, and won the Mod King of the Hill title on his 800 Mod sled.
In the five classes Erin Beukelman entered, he won three titles and finished second in another class. Beukelman won the 700 Mod, 800 Improved Stock, and 1000 Improved class titles, and took second in 800 Mod. He went on to win the Improved King of the Hill title on his 1000 Improved sled.
Justin Thomas won the 600 Mod class, took second in 600 Improved, and finished third in the Mod King of the Hill runoff.
Luke Rainey won the 700 Stock class, and took third in both 800 Stock and 600 Stock.
Also earning podium finishes in the Pro classes were: Cole Wilford, who was second in 700 Mod and third in 800 Mod; Tyler Crockett, who took second in 600 Mod and 800 Improved Stock, and third in 1000 Improved; David Sharp, Jr., who finished second in both 1000 Stock and Open Mod; and Aaron Sterck, who took third in Open Mod.
Polaris Racers Claim Every Semi-Pro Podium Spot
Polaris racers filled the podium in all three Semi-Pro classes, including finishing 1-6 in Semi-Pro Stock, where Jesse Hotchkiss won, Andy Thomas was second, and Taylor Siemers finished third. In Semi-Pro Improved, Polaris racer Andy Thomas won, Taylor Siemers was second, and Jason Fox took third. In Semi-Pro Mod, it was Jason Fox winning, Dustin Grant in second, and Kameron Lindsay in third.
Jesse Hotchkiss won the Semi-Pro King of the Hill title on his Stock sled, while Jason Fox was second and Andy Thomas took third.
In Amateurs Stock, Polaris racers finished 1-5, as Tanner Meyers won, Rayden Gladfelder was second and Johnathon Durmas finished third. In Amateurs Improved Stock, Polaris racers finished 1-2-3, with Durmas winning, Justyn Heater in second, and Gladfelder taking third. Tanner Meyers won Amateurs Mod and Heater finished third.
In the Women’s classes, Shelley Heap won the Women’s Stock title, finished second in Improved and Mod, and took second in the Queen of the Hill competition. Faith Vickers reached the podium with a third-place finish in Women’s Stock.
Robbie Malinoski Announces Retirement
Robbie Malinoski Announces Retirement
May 12, 2014 – Robbie Malinoski, one of the most popular pro snocross athletes of the past decade, has officially announced his retirement as a racer. Malinoski’s journey started in 2001 when he followed the path of fellow Canadian and mentor Blair Morgan to a life on the road with the World Snowmobile Association, taking part in his first race in Fargo, North Dakota.
A native of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Malinoski made the move to Thief River Falls, Minnesota for the 2002-03 season where he paired up with Earl Reimer and found moderate success on the tour.
Lemieux sweeps Pro finals at Titus Mountain for East Coast Snocross, Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction Poirier, Hunter Patenaude earn 2014 class titles
Lincoln Lemieux
MALONE, N.Y. (Mar. 26, 2014) – Vermont veteran Lincoln Lemieux made a triumphant return to northeastern regional competition last weekend, sweeping the Pro Open finals as East Coast Snocross (ECS) completed its 2014 season finale at the Titus Mountain Family Ski Center.
The series finale was run on Friday night and Saturday, with the year-end awards banquet held following the last race on Saturday. While Lemieux was setting the pace in Pro action, it was Quebec native Danny Poirier (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) celebrating his fourth championship at day’s end.
Poirier claimed five final round wins during the season and was never far from the podium. At 34, he still has the speed, agility and determination to outgun the competition. After riding a Polaris the past few years, Poirier returned to Ski-doo last winter and hooked up with the powerhouse Ingles squad. The result was a reinvigorated former champion with his eyes set squarely on the top prize.
“The biggest challenge I faced was making the switch back over to Ski-doo,” Poirier said in a radio interview Tuesday evening. “I had to work twice as hard as normal to learn the sled, but once I figured it out and got it dialed in, we were in great shape. Ski-doo’s new race sled is amazing; I was able to push very hard and it took the punishment easily. It feels great to win another title, both for me personally and for the Ingles family. I’m happy with how well we did and look forward to 2015.”
Following Lemieux across the stripe in Friday night’s Pro Open final was Leo Patenaude, who tested the waters in Pro Open after winning the Pro Lite final. Michigan native Kevin Wallenstein was rock-solid in third, while Mike Bauer and Mike Pilotte completed the top five. On Saturday, Poirier capped his title run with a second place finish, with teammate Mathieu Morin right behind him in third. Bauer and Pilotte capped their 2014 campaigns with fourth and fifth place finishes respectively.
Patenaude led his brother Hunter across the line in Friday night’s Pro Lite tussle, with veteran Jason Boron (Team Southside/Mystic Lubricants Polaris) filling out the podium in third. Boron made an emotional return to victory on Saturday to the delight of everyone associated with ECS. Jason is a real “Ironman” in this sport and has battled against athletes half his age all winter long. Both Leo and Hunter looked up to him in their early days, and now, they can say they’ve raced a legend and won.
In Sport class action at Malone, Connecticut native Cody Paolella capped a career-best season with victories in Super Stock both Friday and Saturday. Paolella and teammate Bruce Gaspardi Jr. have dominated this highly-competitive class all year, with Gaspardi winning the combined Sat./Sun. points by one marker over Paolella. It’s the tightest finish in series history, and it couldn’t have been contested between two nicer riders. Congratulations to “Captain America” on a well-deserved championship.
Other winners over the two-day outing in Malone include Megan Brodeur (Pro Women Sat/Sun); Patrick Brodeur (Pro Am); Bruce Gaspardi Jr. (Plus 25 Sat/Sun); and Marco Travaglini (Jr. 16-17 Sat/Sunday). With snow in the air at Malone, the season concluded in a very winter-like fashion.
East Coast Snocross would like to thank the staff and management at Titus Mountain for being such gracious hosts last weekend. For the second straight year, the season finale was a success thanks to an excellent venue and that warm Malone hospitality. We enjoyed our stay once again and hope to return in 2015.
With its fourth season now in the books, ECS would also like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the 2013-14 season a success. Weather conditions proved to be a major challenge, yet the staff rose to the occasion and the races were held. Thanks also go out to all of our racers who endured less than ideal conditions at times yet kept on racing. Without such a wonderful core of racers, the series would be pointless. We wish you all a safe and rewarding off-season.
East Coast Snocross, presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction, is the eastern affiliate of International Series of Champions (ISOC), the national sanctioning body for snocross. ECS strives to maintain a healthy level of grass-roots snocross in the northeast, while cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed Pro teams.
For full results from Malone or more information, go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.
