Grand Prix Skidoo de Valcourt race day–Race director starting an oval class. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

PRESS RELEASE from Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt:

Valcourt, Québec, January 28, 2013 - The organizers of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX are pleased to announce the return of “Open House Day” on Thursday, February 14, 2013. The “Open House Day” allows the general public to enter Circuit Yvon Duhamel free of charge, between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to watch non-stop open practice sessions on the snocross layout and on the ice oval speed track.

It is a great opportunity for the whole family to discover the fascinating world of snowmobile racing or to renew their relationship with the most popular outdoor winter motor sport activity in Quebec. Visitors will be allowed to follow on-track action from all access points open to the public around the track, or stroll the paddocks to meet the drivers and watch the crews as they ready their racing machines. This is the perfect time to take pictures while the pressure is off, and have a chance to feel the ambiance that will carry over to the following three days of festivities.

During this prelude to the 31st edition of the Grand Prix of Valcourt scheduled to run February 15-17, most of the competitors will be on hand to set up their racing machines during these preliminary open practice sessions. Grand Prix of Valcourt champions Dustin Wahl from Greenbush, Minnesota, Nicholas Van Strydonk from Tomahawk, Wisconsin and Quebec’s Jacques Villeneuve will be eying one another during practice but will be ready to meet the fans as will upcoming 15-year old star Sabrina Blanchet from Quebec City.

Also on hand will be Mike Van Dolder from Annan, Ontario and Dustin Gehrke from Morrisonville, New York. In snocross, fans can cheer and meet ISOC favorites Tim Tremblay and Jennifer Paré, both defending class champions, Stephanie Lemieux-Bell of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, or Darrin Mees of Long Island, NY, or East Coast Snocross Series rider Lincoln Lemieux of St. Johnsbury, VT. Iain Hayden from Holland Center, Ontario will be spearheading the Canadian CSRA Series multi-pronged Ontario attack with David Joanis of Cochrane, Lee Butler of Sudbury, and Dylan Hall of Ayr.

 ”Why not enjoy fresh air while discovering extreme winter motorsport and meeting the stars of snowmobile ice racing and snocross. This is what the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by FOX offers to the fans during Thrusday’s February 14 “Open House Day,” said Marie-Pier Lemay, General Manager of the Grand Prix. “I invite everyone to take advantage of this offer to live the experience of a day of competition on a legendary track. For this, we are of course very thankful for the collaboration of the series officials and the drivers who enable fans to enjoy a day at the track. “

For three days, Valcourt showcases the world’s best snowmobile racers, the exciting motorcycle riders, the ATV and UTV Side-by-Side competitors, and the Revstar STR stock-car drivers as they tackle the challenging Circuit Yvon Duhamel ice oval speed track, while the top professional snocross riders in North America show who rules during 200 open practice sessions qualifying heats and race finals.

Fans can attend free of charge on Friday after 3:00 p.m. and watch the Snowmobile Drag Racing Under the Lights competition. Also on the bill is the Saturday late afternoon Freestyle Snocross competition. There is also plenty of fun and games for the whole family, including live rock bands under the Big Top, slides & snowmobile rides for kids. Learn more at www.grandprixvalcourt.com/.

Tickets for the February 15-17, 2013 Grand Prix of Valcourt presented by FOX are currently on sale at the ticket offices at 1-866-532-7543 Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or at www.grandprixvalcourt.com/en/. Until February 13, 2013 inclusively, fans can save $10 by purchasing a three-day heated trackside G Suite pass for just $90, taxes included. Fans of the great outdoors can also benefit from this special offer with a savings of 20% off the regular price for three-day general admission tickets at $45 instead of $55. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with an adult holding a valid ticket. All guests, including children, must hold a pass to enter the trackside suites.

#17, Chris Hortness, Bienfait, SK, at Eagle River’s 40th anniversary race event.

Eagle River, WI—A 50^th Anniversary is a big deal, no matter what event is being commemorated for the 50^th time.  And when it comes to the sport of snowmobile racing, there is no event bigger on the 2013 winter calendar than the upcoming  50^th Anniversary Eagle River Snowmobile Derby, sponsored by Amsoil.    Although the “Big Go” at Eagle River is still several months away, the crew at the Derby Track are already hard at work to make this year’s event one that racers and fans all across the snowbelt will never forget.

“We feel the 50^th Anniversary of the Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby is truly a historic milestone in the sport of snowmobiling.  The entire crew here at the Derby is really excited to work with our title sponsor Amsoil, as well as all of our affiliate sponsors, to make this event the coolest thing seen in snowmobile racing in many years”, enthused long-time Derby Track spokesperson Todd Achterberg.

Achterberg went on to say, “The 50^th Anniversary party for the Derby will actually kick off with us putting together a display booth at the Crandon off-road races over Labor Day Weekend.  We’ll go from there to Haydays for another display, and then host our Vintage Grass Drag Races the weekend after Haydays right at the Derby Track.  We will also be at all of the Snowmobile USA shows with our booth again this year, promoting both the 50^th Anniversary race, as well as our huge Vintage Oval race weekend.  We invite everybody to stop by our display booths at these shows and events to say hello, and learn more about what we have in store this winter.  They might even walk away from out booth with some fun freebies, and giveaway items that we have in the works!”

One aspect of the 50^th Anniversary Derby that is generating a lot of buzz throughout the entire snowmobile industry, is that invitations have been sent out to every past World Champion that won at Eagle River over the years to return to the Derby track and join in the festivities.  There will be a ton of oval racing talent on hand this year, spanning six decades of competition at the historic event.  In addition to the past Champion drivers, there will be a large number of past Championship winning sleds on display, or clones of those incredible racing sleds from yesteryear.

For more information on the 50^th Anniversary Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby, as well as other upcoming events at the Derby Track, please visit their website at:  www.derbytrack.com.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – High-energy snowmobile racing returns to the Traverse City area this winter when the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel hosts the Feb. 8-9, 2013, rounds of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series tour, the world’s most prestigious snocross tour.

Snocross racer Bobby LePage (photo 2006)

In an extra thrill for fans of high-performance snowmobiles, Traverse City will also be one of only two stops on the eight-city series to feature a first-ever “freestyle jam session” in which the machines and their drivers are pushed to their limits in a series of jumps, flips and other stunts.

Snocross, the most popular form of snowmobile racing, is a sport in which riders compete at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour on tracks featuring tight turns, banked corners, steep jumps (some as high as 30 feet) and obstacles. In some races, jumping machines can be airborne as much as 130 feet.

The AMSOIL Championship Series, which runs from November through March, is sanctioned by the International Series of Champions, the leading snowmobile race sanctioning organization in North America. Carl Schubitzke, ISOC’s director of Operations and Racing, said he was delighted to add Traverse City (“the heart of Michigan’s snowmobile country”) to the 2012-2013 tour.

“We consider this to be one of our premier events on the national tour,” he said. “It’s a perfect match and one that we’re confident will be the foundation event for future ACSS tour stops.”

The race will feature several international snocross racing stars, including X Games gold medalist and snowmobile distance jumping record holder Levi LaVallee; Tucker Hibbert, holder of five straight gold medals at Winter X Snocross and winner of the most ACSS events and championships in history; Canada’s Tim Tremblay, the defending ACSS overall Pro Open class champion, and top snocross pros Ross Martin, Robbie Malinoski, Darrin Mees and Michigan’s own Kyle Pallin.

Traverse City has long been a favorite destination for snowmobilers, since it’s a convenient base for exploring more than 200 miles of the country’s most diverse snowmobiling trails. The Boardman Valley Trail, is an 81-mile trail system in the Pere Marquette State Forest, where sightings of turkeys, eagles, deer and other wildlife are commonplace, and is linked to several other regional trail systems, offering even more opportunities for extended distance riding. The Jordan Valley Trail, about a half-hour to the northeast, features over 130 miles of spectacular trails not far from Shanty Creek and the picturesque village of Bellaire.

Since the region’s scenery is so diverse, the trails encompass many different landscapes: snug tunnels of tall snowy evergreens, open stands of hardwood where the sun shines down through blue shadows, high ridges where eagles soar, wide meadows that look out over distant glacial lakes. Sledders accustomed to the wide-open raceway style conditions in other snowmobiling areas say they’re amazed at how often they seem to have the Traverse City trails to themselves.

An estimated 5,000 race fans are expected to converge on the casino grounds, located 10 miles east of Traverse City in the village of Williamsburg, for the Feb. 8-9 event.

“We have hosted snocross events in the past, and love the pure excitement they bring to our corner of Northwest Michigan,” said Rich Bailey, CEO of Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos. “It’s going to be an amazing winter playground for the riders and fans.”

But it’s the addition of the all-new freestyle competition that’s beginning to create buzz in the racing community. Freestyle riders (known as “pilots” because they spend so much time in the air) are the daredevils of the sport, and they love to put on a show for their audiences.

All events in the series will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network, beginning with the opening event in Duluth and running through the season finale in Lake Geneva, Wis. The broadcasts begin Sunday, Dec. 30th, at 10:30 a.m. EST.

To learn more about other winter attractions and events in the Traverse City area – and for a complete listing of lodging and dining options – contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-TRAVERSE or on line at www.TraverseCity.com

However, fans had a full day of 49 qualifying heat races and final races on Saturday. Winner of the Semi Pro Formula 500 finale on Friday, Serge Ouellet of Lachute won again on Saturday, this time in the Pro Formula 500, edging Ontario riders Ben Harris of Douglas and Rob Sheppard of Mindemoya. New York riders Dustin Gehrke of Morrisonville finished fourth ahead of Rome residents Anthony Pettinelli and Andrew Spencer.

Samuel Beaulieu - snocross racer #69 (photo credit - Flagworld.com)

Dustin Gehrke was very productive at the Grand Prix of Valcourt winning three races in three different classes. He won his second Pro Stock 600 Fan race of the weekend on Saturday to push his total to four this season in the Eastern Pro Tour. The 19-year old rider took the checkered flag ahead of Michael Soucy of Hopkinton, New Hampshire and Dave Baldwin of Carleton Place, Ontario. In the Stock 600 Fan class, he won this time ahead of Baldwin and Soucy. Andrew Spencer finished fourth.

In a race that was red-flagged twice, Gehrke won a hard fought battle in the Semi-Pro Formula 500 class against Rob Sheppard. American Anthony Pettinelli finished third ahead of Quebec riders Dany Poudrier of Labrecque, Jocelyn Lesieur of Shawinigan, and Serge Ouellet of Lachute who finished sixth.

In the Semi-Pro Champ class, Travis MacDonald of Lackport, Manitoba won his second race of the Valcourt weekend. The 16-year old beat 19-year old Nick Lagoy of Morrisonville, NY and Félipe Roy-Lalonde of Saint-Jude, Quebec to the checkered flag. Curtis Weatherdon of Barry’s Bay, Ontario finished fourth ahead of Alexandre Lavallée of Drummondville, Quebec.

It was an all Quebec podium in the Sport Formula 500 with Jocelyn  Lesieur of Shawinigan winning ahead of Gaston Ferland of Quebec City and Harold Carrier of Saint-Lambert de Lauzon.

In motocross 450cc action, Carl Daigle of Sherbrooke, Quebec narrowly beat Maxime Sylvestre of Joliette, Quebec in a hotly disputed contest. The two leaders easily outdistanced the rest of the field to the checkered flag. Samuel Desbiens of L’Ange-Gardien, QC finished third ahead of Michael Hakey of Alstead, New Hampshire, Yannick Lacroix of Sherbrooke and Guillaume Hudon of La Pocatière, QC.

Camoplast Snocross Championship
Falling back to seventh place after a dismal start, Jennifer Paré of La Doré, Quebec moved through the field to finish second to snocross Sport Super Stock 600 class winner Samuel Beaulieu of Stoneham, Quebec. Michael Ouellette of Tingwig completed the all-Quebec podium. Christopher Ingles of Perreville, NY finished fourth, followed by Quebec riders Nicholas Fillion of Desbiens and Michael Favreau of Coaticook.

Lucas Brunel of Boucherville, Quebec won his match against Lincoln Lemieux of St. Johnsbury, Vermont in the snocross Semi-Pro Open finale. Luc Villeneuve of Quebec City finished third ahead of Chris Ackerman of Jericho, Vermont, and Quebecers Pierre-Vincent Fillion of Desbiens and Donovan Asselin of La Doré.

Matthew Morin - snocross race at the Grand Prix de Valcourt (photo credit to Flagworld.com)

In the final snocross event of Saturday, Mathieu Morin won a most exciting race in the Pro Super Stock snocross class. The Val d’Or rider beat Bobby Lepage of St. Johnsville, NY who rebounded after finishing fifth in Friday’s race. Quebec riders took the next four positions with Dany Poirier of Saint-Théodore d’Acton finishing third ahead of Dave Asselin of La Doré, Keven Benoit of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil and Dave Allard of Saint-Félicien.

The Grand Prix of Valcourt continues Sunday with the Eastern Pro Tour ice oval final races of the weekend and the final rounds of the Camoplast Snocross Championship. Motocross and ATV riders will also be on the bill.

Tickets for the 28th edition of the Grand Prix de Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance for Sunday are available at Circuit Yvon Duhamel ticket office from 8:00 a.m. Ticket price are $27. To learn more on the Grand Prix, fans can log online at: www.grandprixvalcourt.com

Contributed by:
Max d’Orsonnens
Media Liaison
Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt

Jacques Villeneuve - Grand Prix de Valcourt - photo credit Flagworld.com (taken in 2009)

In the first final race of the weekend, Manitoba’s Travis MacDonald, winner at Valcourt in 2009, took the win in the Semi Pro Champ class ahead of Curtis Weatherdon of Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Félipe Roy-Lalonde of Saint-Jude, Quebec finished third.

Scott Dawson won the Sports Formula 500 class race finale. The Eganville, Ontario rider took the checkered flag ahead of Gaston Ferland of Quebec City and Eddy Anderson of Saint-Romuald, QC. Harold Carrier of Saint-Lambert de Lauzon finished fourth.

Nineteen year-old Dustin Gehrke from Morrisonville, New York won the Stock 600 Fan class race to push his number of wins to three so far this season. The defending class champion and winner of the 2009 race at the Valcourt Grand Prix crossed the finish line ahead of Dave Baldwin of Carleton Place, Ontario. Michael Soucy of Hopkinton, New Hampshire finished third.

Quebec rider Serge Ouellet of Lachute,    QC registered his second Semi Pro Formula 500 class win of the season, beating New York rider Dustin Gehrke and Ben Harris from Douglas, Ontario. Anthony Pettinelli of Rome, NY, Rob Sheppard of Midnemoya, Ontario, and Dany Poudrier of Labrecque, Quebec, respectively finished fourth through sixth.

In the Pro Stock 600 Fan finale, New Yorker Dustin Gehrke won his second race of the season. The class defending champion crossed the finish line ahead of Ontario rider Dave Baldwin and Michael Soucy and Andrew Spenser from the United States.

Camoplast Snocross Championship
In the Camoplast Snocross Championship, Brett Turcotte of Clearwater, British Columbia easily won the Sports Stock 600 class ahead of Quebec riders Keven Benoit of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, Dave Asselin of La Doré, Dany Poirier of Saint-Théodore d’Acton, and Dave Allard of Saint-Félicien.

Jennifer Paré of La Doré, QC scored her fifth snocross Sports 600 class win of the season, crossing the finish line by a wide margin over Patrick Brodeur of Coaticook and Leo Patenaude from Hurtland, Vermont. Christopher Ingle of Perreville, NY, finished fourth, followed by Samuel Beaulieu of Stoneham, Quebec and Michael Ouellette of Tingwig, QC.

Jennifer Pare - Grand Prix de Valcourt snocross - photo credit Flagworld.com, taken in 2009

The Grand Prix of Valcourt continues Saturday with ten Eastern Pro Tour ice oval finales and three final rounds of the Camoplast Snocross Championship. Motocross and ATV riders will make their first appearance at the Grand Prix of the weekend.

Tickets for the 28th edition of the Grand Prix de Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance are available at Circuit Yvon Duhamel ticket office from 8:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday Daily ticket price are $27 for each day. To learn more on the Grand Prix, fans can log online at:

www.grandprixvalcourt.com

Release issued by:

Max d’Orsonnens
Media Liaison
Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt

More than 120 riders will vie for victory in close to one hundred qualifying heat and final races that will be held at the 28th running of the Grand Prix of Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance on February 19th – 21st.

Over the three days of competition, Xtreme motorsports fans will find their thrills in the more than 20 classes entered in snowmobile ice oval racing, Sno-X competition, Moto-X, and ATV ice oval races. Snowmobile ice oval racers will compete in round 2 of the 2010 SMC Eastern Pro-Tour schedule, which includes the all-important Pro-Champ races, while Sno-X riders will be entering round 6 of the 2009-2010 Camoplast Championship Snocross Series at Valcourt.

Motocross and ATV riders will be on the bill Saturday and Sunday.

Ice oval snowmobile racing - photo © Linda Aksomitis - taken in March 2005

Nearly 40 races will be on tap for Friday, starting at 10 a.m. with competition in three Sno-X classes and six snowmobile ice oval categories. The 30 races scheduled for Saturday, February 20 will start half an hour earlier at 9:30 a.m. for eight ice oval snowmobiles classes, and the 450cc studded tires Moto-X category. Three Sno-X races, Semi Pro-Open 600, Sport Super Stock 600 and the Grand Finale in the Pro Super Stock 600 will complete Saturday’s schedule.

Sunday at Valcourt also begins at 9:30 and will feature the Sno-X Semi-Pro Super Stock 600 class races and the final leg of the Pro Open 600 class Triple Crown Championship scheduled to start at 3:30 pm.

Following the first two rounds held in January in Malone, NY and Mirabel, QC, Malone race winner Bobby Lepage of St. Johnsville, NY is tied in first place with 285 points with Mirabel winner Mathieu Morin of Val d’Or, QC. Quebec riders Danny Poirier of Acton Vale, and Dave Allard of Saint-Félicien, are third with 230 points apiece.

In Sunday’s SCM Pro Champ Grand Finale, Eastern Pro-Tour defending champion and Grand Prix of Valcourt spokesperson Jacques Villeneuve should be facing USSA Prostar Oval Racing Series regulars, Americans Dustin Wahl, two-time winner at Valcourt, Matt Schulz, winner of the 2010 Eagle River race and 2007 Valcourt event, and Nicholas VanStryDonk, runner-up to Wahl last season in Valcourt.  New York riders Mason Hamilton, Nick Lagoy, and Gary Meyer, regulars on the Eastern Pro-Tour, will also compete in that event as will Travis McDonald and Bryan Bewcik from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The organizers have more than snowmobile XTreme race action to offer for family entertainment with the presentation of a special musical happening on Saturday night at the Valcourt Arena, featuring the acclaimed Montreal band Eclipse in a tribute concert to one of the seventies and eighties top rock British band “Hommage à Pink Floyd” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYcIqqdSmQ).

The Joseph-Armand Bombardier Museum will once again open its door free of charge February 19th – 21st, where fans will be able to view highlights of races held in previous Grands Prix.

Tickets for the 28th edition of the Grand Prix de Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance are still available by contacting the ticket office at 1-450-532-3443 or at 1-866-532-7543. Some Trackside Suite passes, offering an incredible view of all the action on Circuit Yvon Duhamel in the comfort of a heated building, are also still available. To learn more on the weekend festivities, schedule and ticket packages, fans can log online at www.grandprixvalcourt.com.

Jackson Hole, WY is known for its beautiful scenery, breath taking views, and in the winter time for it’s well-traveled destination for snowmobiling. Levi LaVallee and fellow Red Bull Athlete, Heath Frisby, were given the opportunity to do some back country riding for Good Morning America.

Levi LaVallee -- snocross racer and snowmobile freestyle rider. Photo ©Garth Milan/Red Bull Photofiles

Levi, Heath, and about 10 other Red Bull and Good Morning America correspondents traveled up the snowy paths from Jackson Hole, WY to Togwotee Mountain Lodge, a lodge that has earned its reputation as the World’s Premier Snowmobile Resort for vacation winter sports. With help from a local guide, the GMA crew was brought to a secluded spot to do the shoot.

“The scenery was amazing and the snow was untouched. I couldn’t believe it! I was pretty pumped and ready to get rippin on my sled in this new powder,” said LaVallee. “I feel pretty fortunate to be a part of this shoot; it’s a great way to show people from all over the beauty of the mountains and the thrill and joy of backcountry snowmobiling.”

Coming Events:
• February 12-14, 2010 HK Powersports New England Nationals
Rockingham Park – Salem, NH
• February 19-21, 2010 Quick Draw Canadian Nationals
Hiawatha Horsepark – Sarnia, Ontario Canada

STORY CONTRIBUTED BY:

Marketing & Media Management for Team LaVallee
Kristen Anderson
teamlavallee.com

Photo ©Garth Milan/Red Bull Photofiles

January 26, 2010

Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt

In 24 Days, the 28th Edition of Quebec’s Great Winter Motorsport Classic Will Be in Full Swing

There Will Be Plenty of Action for Extreme Sports Fans at the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt, Presented by La Capitale General Insurance

Valcourt, Québec, January 26 2010 - The organizers of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance, announced today at their annual press conference held at the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Museum, the general outlines of the upcoming February 19-21 great winter motorsport Valcourt classic.

For the 28th consecutive winter, snow riders and snowmobile race fans as well as snocross and ice oval race fans are invited to Valcourt’s Circuit Yvon Duhamel to live every moments of this extreme sports race weekend, to attend a special concert featuring the best of the Pink Floyd music, and to take part in several family oriented activities.

“Thanks to the support of our partners, Ski-Doo and La Capitale General Insurance, the determination of the Valcourt community to keep our event alive and well, and finally the unfailing support of our volunteers, the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt will present its 28th edition in full splendor, and undoubtedly many more in the years to come. Our spectacular event is part of the true tradition of the Quebec winters, and we are happy to have, all together, managed to preserve it,” said Rock Bourassa, Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt.

Mister Bourassa also mentioned that the enthusiasm of the fans has been tremendous as shown by the pre-event ticket sale, which is a great indicator that many fans from the province of Quebec and its surroundings cherish the event.

“We are conscious that we are going through a transition period. But with the launch of the new Triple Crown Snocross Championship, featuring the best racers from eastern North America, and the elite of ice oval track snowmobile and motorcycle riders, we are in for quite a show,” continued Rock Bourassa. His comments were supported by race veteran Jacques Villeneuve, the event spokesperson, and SCM sanctioning body official Marcel Lafontaine, who were also on hand at the press conference.

Malenfant, Villeneuve, and Bourassa

The first two legs of the SCM Triple Crown Snocross Championship were held in January in Malone, NY and at Mirabel, QC. The final rendezvous of the $8,000 special purse championship will be staged at the Valcourt Grand Prix.

Malone race winner Bobby Lepage of St. Johnsville, NY is tied in first place with Mirabel winner Mathieu Morin of Val d’Or, QC, both with 285 points, followed by Quebec riders Danny Poirier of Acton Vale, and Dave Allard of Saint-Félicien, who are third with 230 points apiece.

On the ice oval track, Jacques Villeneuve will be featured in the featured Pro Champ class along with 2008 two-time Valcourt winner Dustin Wahl of Minnesota, Matt Schulz of Wisconsin, winner of the 2010 Eagle River race and 2007 Valcourt event and Nicholas Van Strydonk, also from the state of Wisconsin. Jason Lavallée of Drummondville, Quebec, who made it to the finals at Eagle River, will also be in Valcourt.

Three full days of all-out snowmobile, snocross and motorcycle competition await fans from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 19.

There will also be plenty of action on the 0.8 km Valcourt ice oval in the exciting 450 cc motocross studded class with a field of experienced riders including 2009 Valcourt winner Maxime Sylvestre of Saint-Thomas, QC, Michael Hackey of Alstead, New Hampshire, and four-time Valcourt winner Dominic Beaulac of Nicolet, Quebec.

Finally, the Grand Prix de Valcourt has added an All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) race program to its 2010 ice oval schedule featuring among others Can-Am ace rider Richard Pelchat of Levis, QC, Carl Leblanc of Victoriaville, and Dany Fiset of Deschaillons, QC.

Pink Floyd and the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Museum
The Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance will feature more than snowmobile XTreme race action. As usual, the organizers have scheduled family oriented activities.

Labatt Brewery and Les Production du Palais will present a special musical happening on Saturday night at the Valcourt Arena, featuring the acclaimed Montreal band Eclipse in a tribute concert to one of the seventies and eighties top rock British band “Hommage _ Pink Floyd”. In addition, the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Museum will open its door free of charge to those attending the Grand Prix.

Tickets for the 28th edition of the Grand Prix de Valcourt, presented by La Capitale General Insurance are available by contacting the ticket office at 1-450-532-3443 or at 1-866-532-7543. Some Track Suite passes, offering an incredible view of all the action on Circuit Yvon Duhamel in the comfort of a heated suite, are still available. To learn more on the weekend festivities, schedule and ticket packages, fans can log online at www.grandprixvalcourt.com.

linsay@grandprixvalcourt.com