Rounds 7 and 8: Frigid Temperatures Lead to Sparks on the Track

The series moved north to Fargo, ND, where a lot can happen in the middle of nowhere. Mother nature proved to have a cold heart as temperatures dipped well into the minuses. 

The 7th round saw Francis Pelletier in solo competition as his teammate Daniel Benham is out after injuring his knee at the last race in Deadwood. After an MRI, Dan’s knee was not as damaged as the team had first feared. Dan has begun rehabilitation on his knee already and has regained his full range of motion. He has started limited exercises and expects to be back in action for round 11 at Canterbury Park. 

Dan was able to follow the team via the “live-stream” and, after having to sit this weekend out, stated, “Watching from home only made me more motivated to get back to the races with the team! I am not a very good spectator.” 

The Friday practice sessions started and ended with less than inspired times. “Frank” used his time to piece his perfect lap together methodically. The #220 teal colored terror lined up in heat 1 with the first gate pick. The light turned green, and Frank was off the top of the elevated start line like a man possessed. As they rounded the first half lap, Pelletier had strung a series of triple jumps together that rewarded him with a second a lap advantage. In the closing lap of the heat, the defending series champion was unable to challenge the lead, giving 220 another wire-to-wire heat race win and lining up for round number two in the second heat with the last gate pick this time. Francis cut a decent light and had a good jump off the line but did not have that critical inside line. He ended up being pushed wide and off the racecourse, relegated to the last position. Determined to show his speed Frank moved his way up to 4th place and was putting pressure on 3rd. Regrettably, with two laps to go, Frank’s knee came in contact with the plastic throttle flipper shattering it into pieces halting his charge. Pelletier’s combined results qualified him in 6th place.  

 After the opening lap of the final, Pelletier found himself in a battle for 4th, swapping positions several times before making the pass stick. Running is Speedwerx tuned RS600 up to the rear bumper of the third-place rider. The second half of the race seemed to be a delicate game of cat and mouse. Lap after lap, the defensive lines proved to be effective, Pelletier narrowly missing back-to-back podiums by a mere sled length at the finish.

Saturday morning saw an even colder temperature than the previous day of racing. Post practice Pelletier, satisfied with his set-up and speed, stated: “We are gonna need a start; the track is icy everywhere.” With the data studied the comments analyzed, Speedwerx’s Steve Houle went to work making a few tweaks and changes.  Lining up for the first round, Frank punched the gas at the first glow of green. Never looking back, picture-perfect holeshot and laps handily winning with a 5.6-second advantage over second. Round two of qualifying saw the rookie pro lining up next to the defending champ. The two racers drag raced side by side to the first corner. The defending champ had the inside advantage, forcing Pelletier to use the longer outside line. Frank had to settle for second; combined results qualified the rookie 1st overall for the final. Pro rules see the qualifier’s gate picks inverted for the final, leaving Francis with the ninth pick. 

The start ever so critical; temperatures had plummeted to their all-time lows for the weekend. The wind had stalled just before the beginning of the final, exhaust vapor hanging like an eerie mist on the line. When the light went green, and the fog and snow dust cleared, Pelletier found himself in the middle of the pack. As the clock ticked down, Pelletier, desperate to make a pass for 5th happen, came in a little too hot for a corner sliding wide on the brakes. His mistake cost him two positions; a disappointed apologetic Pelletier post-race stated, “I missed the light; I couldn’t see good with the fog hanging in the air.” 

The series points now see Pelletier move up the ladder into 5th position in the championship at the halfway point of the season.

 Snocross – Deadwood, SD - Results

Friday

4th - Francis Pelletier (Pro Class)

DNS – Daniel Benham (Pro Class)

Saturday

8th - Francis Pelletier (Pro Class)

DNS - Daniel Benham (Pro Class)