Extreme Weather a Big Factor for Rounds 3 & 4
Elk River, Minn. Dec. 19, 2016 – Heavy snow, bitter cold temps and strong winds welcomed the AMSOIL Championship Snocross tour to a new venue in Winter Park, CO for rounds three and four of the series. The weather played a big factor throughout the weekend with Friday’s races being temporary delayed due to the blizzard conditions. With some of the gnarliest snow dust Carlson Moto riders Andrew Carlson and Ryan Springer had ever encountered, visibility became a major challenge. Couple that with numb fingers, assorted patches of frostbite, some sled challenges, two banged-up riders and a partridge in a pear tree—and you’ve got just a glimpse into the weekend Team CM had in Colorado last weekend.
Carlson and Springer struggled with bad starting line picks and some tough luck on the track on Friday, which sent them both to the LCQ. Carlson took a nasty hit to the ribs in the first round of qualifying which left him less than 100% for the remainder of the weekend. Both Carlson and Springer earned spots in the main through the LCQ, which placed them in the back row for the final. Heavy snow dust throughout the main made it nearly impossible to advance positions, and both riders had to settle for spots outside of the top-10.
Saturday started with Carlson and Springer each laying down some quick lap times in practice, but as the qualifying rounds commenced, their luck quickly changed. Springer pulled a monster holeshot on his sneaky-fast Polaris 600 in round one, only to experience a freak mechanical issue on the uphill while leading the pack. As he attempted to exit the track he was hit from behind by another driver. Springer suffered a a leg injury in the accident which kept him on the sidelines for the remainder of the day. Springer and Carlson are recovering and will both be ready for action for rounds five and six.
The team is looking forward to some time to recover as well as continued testing and tuning at ERX Motor Park over the next couple of weeks as they celebrate the Christmas holiday. They will regroup for the first race of the new year close to home at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN, January 6-7. You can find details on the entire Snocross season including schedule, live streaming information, and rebroadcasts of each round on the CBS Sports network at snocross.com.
From all of us at Carlson Moto, we’d like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
About Carlson Moto:
Carlson Moto is a family of racers, mechanics and sponsors who are proud of our accomplishments on the track and off, and are driven to excellence in everything we do. Our racing organization is driven by a deep-rooted passion for the sport and an operational philosophy grounded in integrity. To learn more about Carlson Moto and how you can partner in their success, visit us at www.carlsonmoto.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.