By: Thayne Hallyburton
The 2006/2007 Canadian Snowcross Racing Association season is set to open up another campaign December 8-10 in Searchmont, Ontario at Searchmont resort.
Among the big news of the off-season was the downsizing, or folding of former powerhouse, Super teams. OTSFF Motorpsorts has downsized, keeping Peter Raymer to ride in the pro classes and bringing aboard Dustin Vandrie from the now defunct Armstrong Speedsports team to race Semi-pro. Armstrong Speedsports as just mentioned has not put a team together for 2006-2007.
Thomas Kenny will be racing with his brother, Ryan Kenney and father. Ryan will move up to the Pro Classes for this year, and has a good chance to contend for a championship.
Dustin Vandrie has moved to OTSFF, Carl Kuster has retired (not officially) and John O’Malley has moved on to pursue a career in snowcross in northern U.S.’s Rock Maple Racing snowcross circuit.
Supertrax racing has also quit snowcross. Brentwood Roofing has expanded its team, welcoming Mike Vandolder into the fold, along with Paul Wilson, who will be racing Semi-Pro.
Royal Distributing made the big splash this off-season, undergoing the most change. It will now feature both Polaris and Ski-Doo riders.
Iain Hayden has left to move onto the World Power Sports Association (WPSA) snocross with Blair Morgan Racing. In response, Royal Distributing went out and got the ‘Big Fish’ in Mike Island. Island will be riding Polaris’s with last year’s junior racer of the year, David Joanis who will be racing all Sport classes and Semi-Pro stock.
Joey Sagan will be back again under the Royal name, but he will be running out of his own trailer with his dad on Ski-Doo’s. Royal will undoubtedly have two top guns in the pro classes this year.
It appears as though Northland Recreation will also be cutting back its racing program, with confirmation that it will be helping out the Brand brothers, Jeff and Kevin, as well as Tiffany Saville.
Last year’s top notch class of juniors and sport riders will be trying their hand in the Semi-Pro ranks this season as well and will undoubtedly supply an ample amount of entertainment for the fans in attendance.
Jeff Brand, Travis Hallyburton, Tom Adams, Dave Joanis, Dustin Vandrie, Paul Wilson, Cody Watkinson among others have all announced plans to run full on semi-pro, or dabble in semi-pro stock.
CSRA has shortened its race schedule from years past, holding just 8 races and co-sanctioning one other with the WPSA in Valcourt Quebec, so getting off to a fast start will be the name of the game is you want to be on top of the podium at the end of the season.
Pro Top 3 to watch:
1) Mike Island
2) Peter Raymer
3) Joey Sagan
Semi-Pro Top 3 to watch:
1) Paul Wilson
2) Dustin Vandrie
3) Colt Pickles (if racing)
Hopefully the snow cooperates with us this year and everyone stays injury free. Good Luck to all the racers and crewmembers. Last year was awesome and this year there is more fun in store.
See you at the track!
