Elk River, Minn. Jan. 10, 2017– Racing returned to the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series at Canterbury Park this past weekend, close to home for the Carlson Moto team in Shakopee, Minn. Both Carlson Moto riders, Andrew Carlson and Ryan Springer, showed improvement throughout the weekend. Springer pulled a huge holeshot Friday night and led the Pro Open main event for eight laps before an onslaught of nerves and rookie mistakes led to a paralyzing case of arm-pump. Springer was able to hold on to earn a sixth place finish, his best effort of the season so far. In his eight-lap sprint, Springer set the fastest lap time of the weekend, which served as a firm reminder that he’s got the speed to run up front.
Carlson also showed consistent improvement by chiseling away at his lap times to the point where he was able to get in the mix in Saturday night’s main event. Carlson battled from the back row, making several nice passes to earn a respectable top-10 finish—his best of the year.
One of the big challenges both Carlson and Springer are facing in their transition to the crazy pace of Pro Open Snocross is getting out of their comfort zone in order to be competitive. It’s a massive mental transition from where they were in the Pro Lite class a few short years ago, and it’s now abundantly clear why so many top Pro Lite riders struggle to make the transition to the big show. The good news is both riders are fully committed to doing what is necessary to elevate their game to that next level. Signs of encouragement were evident this past weekend and the entire team is excited to get back in the game at the next stop in Deadwood, SD January 20-21.
The entire Carlson Moto team would like to extend our heart-felt condolences to the family of Hunter Houle. Hunter, son of snowmobile Hall of Famer and Carlson Moto friend Steve Houle, lost his life doing what he loved this past weekend—racing his snowmobile. News of this tragic event sent shock waves through the pits at Canterbury and the entire snowmobile industry. From all of us at Carlson Moto, we wish God’s peace and strength to the Houle family as they navigate this unimaginable tragedy.
You can find details on the entire snocross season including schedule, live streaming information, and On-Demand coverage of each round on the CBS Sports network at snocross.com. Learn more about Carlson Moto team members at CarlsonMoto.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Carlson Moto:
Carlson Moto is a family of racers, mechanics and sponsors who are proud of our accomplishments on the track and off. We are drive to excellence in everything we do. Our racing operation is driven by a deep-rooted passion for the spot and an operational philosophy grounded in integrity. To learn more about Carlson Moto and how you can share in our success, visit CarlsonMoto.com