A Bold Start for a Perennial Snocross Favorite

Team AMSOIL Rider D.J. Eckstrom Starts New Season Where He Left Off

Duluth, Minn. ~ DJ Eckstrom of the 2002-2003 snocross season looks a lot like the Eckstrom of last season. He's riding much the same and winning much the same, too. Eckstrom willed his way to a third place finish in the Pro Open class at the Ski-Doo Duluth National Snocross on Sunday, December 1 with a remarkable and gutsy run.

The AMSOIL/Polaris/Scheuring Speed Sports rider from Duluth, Minn. was third in overall World Snowmobile Association Pro Stock and Pro Open points at the end of last season. This year Team AMSOIL has new sleds, new technology, but the same determination to win. Still, there were many unanswered questions and high expectations. Eckstrom was the second highest qualifier for the Pro Open final. With the start, Eckstrom flew to front of the pack. As the race went on his lead slowly eroded away. A true test of strength and determination came when Eckstrom landed hard off a jump. With one hand he was able to remain on his sled and continue to a third place finish. "I can't believe I held on," Eckstrom said on the podium. "The sled ran very well," he added. "The off season training and early season practice really paid off."

After running up front in the Pro Stock final, Eckstrom was forced to check up because of a track problem on the snowmobile. He finished tenth. Eckstrom's AMSOIL partner Justin Tate ran into too many on the track skirmishes to mount a serious run for the finals. AMSOIL-sponsored Sport riders Bobby LePage, on Polaris, ended the weekend with win in the Stock class and second in the Open event while Colin Chaschuk was sixth in AMSOIL Semi-Pro Stock on an Arctic Cat.

The team is gearing up for round two of the WSA in Winnipeg, Canada on December 14-15.

News Contact:
Jeremy Meyer
Racing Coordinator
(715) 392-7101 ext. 220

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