Hulten Speed Sports nets 10 class titles in 2009-10 RMR snocross season

ST. JOHNSVILLE, N.Y. (Mar. 31, 2010) – Even at the regional level of snowmobile racing, earning back-to-back championships is no easy task.
Just don’t tell that to the folks at Hulten Speed Sports. After Danny Poirier dominated the Rock Maple Racing (RMR) circuit in 2008-09, many wondered how the team would top that feat in 2010.

Enter one Bobby ‘The Rage’ LePage, of Duluth, Minnesota. LePage brought national experience to HSS, and it showed all season long. LePage fought ski-to-ski all winter with chief rival Mathieu Morin, and when it came down to the wire — he had what it took to succeed.

LePage entered last weekend’s season finale trailing by just one point in Pro Open and two in Pro Stock. To earn the titles, he would have to win his heats and capture both finals. In one of the most focused efforts ever witnessed in RMR, he pulled it off. Bobby earned both class titles, giving Hulten Speed Sports and Polaris their second straight RMR Pro championship.

“It all came down to who wanted it the most,” LePage said. “Mathieu made me work hard for these titles. To be tied in race wins and separated by just one and two points going into the finale was wild. I’m happy to have pulled it off, it feels great. I need to thank Ray & Lisa for providing top-notch sleds all season, Polaris, and our sponsors for their support. It was a blast.”

Not to be ignored is the strong effort put forth by Poirier, a key player at Hulten Speed Sports. The famed ‘Canadian Blast’ swept the Pro finals in Farmington, NY, and finished third in both the Stock (by a mere two points) and Open final standings. He is easily one of the most well-trained, talented and consistent riders in northeastern snocross history.

Along with an aggressive title fight in the Pro ranks, HSS rider Jake Scott kept the team in the spotlight with his amazing consistency in Rock Maple’s Sport division. Scott, of Port Jefferson, NY, led the points all year and built a lead large enough that he could miss the final race.

That’s right, Jake won the Sport Super Stock (Saturday & Sunday classes) and Sport 600 championships without running the final event at Findley Lake. For the season finale, Scott chose to try his hand at the super-competitive Semi-Pro division. In a fine display of determination, Scott rebounded from an early race off-sled incident and passed 12 sleds, finishing third in his first Semi-Pro Open final. Think the future is bright for Jake? Yea, we think so, too.

While LePage and Scott were locked into their respective battles, another young athlete was making a name for himself in the Junior division. Ed Bandel, of Mohawk, NY, wanted to take over for Scott as the rider to beat on any given Sunday. He met that goal with ease, winning just about everything in sight. Between Saturday and Sunday classes, “Fast Eddie” won five titles to top all riders. Congratulations to Eddie and the entire HSS team of riders.

All together, the team earned an amazing 10 class titles with three different riders.

“Ray and I are extremely proud of the success our riders had all season,” said Lisa Hulten, co-owner at HSS. “Everybody worked so hard to win races and class titles, it’s nice to see it pay off in such a big way. Bobby, Danny, Jake and Eddie were fast and smooth all year. That’s all we can expect as team owners. I can’t wait to celebrate these hard-earned titles at the banquet.”

Hulten Speed Sports could not have enjoyed such a successful season across the board without the help of many. First and foremost, we have to thank Tom Rager and the good folks at Polaris for all the support. We take pride in being the eastern factory team, and are very proud to have earned back-to-back titles on the “red sleds.” It takes horsepower and a superior suspension to win snocross championships, and Polaris has both categories covered.

Along with Polaris, HSS would also like to thank Woody’s, Walker-Evan Racing, Boyesen Reeds, Sno-Stuff, C&A Pro skis, Straightline Performance, Frogz Skin, Camoplast, DP Brakes, 139designs, Pit-X, Klim, AFX, Scott Goggles, Extreme Exposures, HMK and Island Water Sports. Without support from these fine companies, the team would not be as competitive.

To keep up with off-season news, visit them online at www.hultenspeedsports.com.