For Immediate Release via Thene Motorsports Ski-Doo
Clear Lake, MN (April 4, 2023) – Elias Ishoel wrapped up an unprecedented fifth consecutive Pro snocross Championship in style on Sunday, by winning the season finale in Dubuque, Iowa. Ishoel finished second overall on Saturday night but needed to complete the weekend with solid results in each of the three triple crown races on Sunday to lock down the title.
Elias won the first two events on Sunday and finished a close second in the third race, securing the overall win and leaving no doubt about the outcome and his place in Snocross history.
Elias Ishoel: “For sure this was the hardest one. I’ve really been playing the game this year, being smart about myself and saving energy when I needed to and really going for it when I needed to. I’m actually really proud of myself that I was able to do it and for the team who have been working super hard also when we have been having a difficult year. Just super happy to have this fifth one.
After I won my first championship the second one was really hard mentally. The first one you don’t think about you are just going for it and the second one you start playing that championship game. Since then I’ve been doing the same and kept feeling better and better but, of course with the injury coming into the season, this one was the most difficult.
After the second one I set the goal of going for five in a row, knowing nobody had ever done that before. Now that I have done that I’m proud of myself, my team, my family and everyone behind me. I couldn’t have done it without all of them and I’m super stoked.”
Crayden Dillon wrapped up his first ever National Championship by finishing third in his Sport class heat race on Saturday. Dillon’s domination of the class throughout the season allowed him to mathematically lock down the championship early in the weekend, enabling him to make the jump up to the Pro Lite division on the same day.
Although an immediate celebration had to be put on hold while the team converted Dillon’s race sled for Pro Lite practice, the entire venue was made aware of his accomplishment and skill when he proceeded to go 2-2 in Lites qualifying and then score a third place podium in the main event.
On Sunday, Dillon was in position to step back on the box, and perhaps even win, before his sled gave way to the liquid roost and mud that was being ingested into the motor late in the race.
Marcus Ogemar was the model of consistency in the Lites class in 2023, finding the podium almost weekly. A second place finish on Saturday all but secured a top three spot in the championship and Ogemar completed that task with two top fives in Sunday qualifying.
Like many competitors on Sunday, Marcus battled the rapidly deteriorating track conditions which prevented his machine from completing the final at full power.
Emeric Legendre was unable to qualify for the Lites finals in Iowa but completed his rookie campaign with a top 10 overall finish in the class and valuable experience heading into the off-season.