Rounds 15 & 16: World Championship Complex of Eagle Rivier
03/28/21
Eagle River Rewound, Where Every Second Counts
The team revisits the historic World Champion Derby Complex for the final weekend of Snocross action. A break from the typical “hurry up and turn left” format as the course was run in a clockwise direction for a change. This proved to be a challenge all in its own as the eagles went home to roost when the rain clouds rolled in.
Practice witnessed not much separation in lap times as the teal twins were both inside the top five. Of those top five times, the separation was less than half a second. The opening round had Benham lining up outside once again with an unlucky randomly generated “last pick.” With a decent drive to the first corner that “last pick” once again dealt Its consequences. Being positioned on the outside of the turn the field was able to push 221 over the berm off track. Relegating Dan to the rear and forced to play another game of catch-up. Pelletier lined up in the following heat, when the light went green the 220 machine tucked in behind the defending champ for the entire race to finish in second. Round two of qualifying both Makita sleds lined up in the opening heat. As the laps of the heat wound down 221 was able to a move into second position. Pelletier pushing hard trying to make some of his own luck found himself catching edge, crossing him up forcing his body to the track surface. Along with varied qualifying results comes the inverted gate pick influence, 220’s 9th place qualifying performance netted him first pick for the final. Lining up on the inside Pelletier punched the throttle pulling a superb holeshot. Pelletier poured on the coals clicking off lead laps all the while being pressured by the defending champ. Lap eight saw Frank relinquishing his lead when the perpetrator of passes aired in out in a sketchy move to jump into the lead. As the laps wore down Francis once again received an assault from the rear. Some miscalculations in the back straight rhythm section had Pelletier stubble off another step of the podium. On the final circumnavigation of the course, Francis lost the wind in his sails literally when he took the handle bars to the ribs. 220 had slowed enough in the final corner to have his laces tied together tripping him off the box. Benham meanwhile was able to watch the entire race from the side of the track as a first corner tangle tore the throttle lever from his machine.
The previous days’ performance had eroded Francis’s 2nd place championship points cushion to a mere single point advantage over 3rd place. The final practice for the series proved to be uneventful as the riders warmed up for the day’s competition. In the opening round, first heat saw it stacked with all the key competitors. The rain had finally turned to snow, and a glint of green flashed as the riders smashed the throttle. Francis was able to pull the holeshot and pull away with a small lead to win the qualifier. Dan meanwhile did not fair too well with his lousy outside gate, circulating in the rear of the pack. In the second round opening heat as well, both teal terrors lined up outside on the line. Frank intently focused on the light jabbed the throttle and stretched the cable for his second holeshot of the day on his Speedwerx tuned ski-doo. The heat turned up on lap two when his contender for 2nd place points battle tries to stuff it up the inside of corner three. But the machine is more stuffed under the 220 sled, tipping them both out of the lead. Benham meanwhile had a front row seat to the action as it unfolded right in front of him. 221 took advantage of the incident and took the heat race win. Francis was able to remount and finish the heat ahead of his rival but was later awarded last place points for “cross jumping” on a dubious call by the track officials. Tension was high in the trailer as points battle for second tightened up and Frank admitted to having “butterflies.” Lined up for the final knowing what he needed to do Francis squeezes out a second-place start. 220 circulates in that position for the first two laps before settling for a comfortable third position, but on lucky lap 13 in the same corner as the previous qualifier, Francis is forced to relive the duplicate incident. This time the snowmobile is damaged halting his charge forcing him to finish out his last laps of the season without a brake and body battered. Dan circulated in the back of the field struggling with comfort issues that plagued his weekend.
There was a somber mood in the trailer following the final as the team felt the runner-up position of the championship slipping out of reach. But when the snow dust settled Francis managed to retain his position in the championship by one precious point!!! The team would like to extend a massive “THANK YOU” to all its partners, supporters, and fans none of the results would be possible without you!
Snocross – Eagle River, WI - Results
Friday
4rd - Francis Pelletier (Pro Class)
12th - Daniel Benham (Pro Class)
Saturday
9th - Daniel Benham (Pro Class)
10th - Francis Pelletier (Pro Class)
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2021 Team Sponsors
Makita Tools, Rockstar Energy Drink, BRP Ski-Doo, FVP, GMC, XPS, Baja Jerky, onX Offroad, SSi Decals, KYB-Enzo, CA Pro Skis, Stud Boy, Bell, Scott, ROX Speed FX, Mechanix Wear, Hayes, Speedwerx USA, Crowell Machine, Quadna Mountain Park
About Warnert Racing
Hill City, Minnesota-based Warnert Racing is the premier team in professional snocross racing and one of the sport’s pioneering “superteams.” After the most successful auto racing operations, the team models, managing the day-to-day operations of two snocross racers, including sponsorship, transportation, marketing, sled set-up, driver development, and technology development.