MALA (SWEDEN), 28 March 2009 – Swedish rider Peter Ericson became the FIM Snowcross World Champion 2009 in front of home spectators.

It is already his third World Championship Title. The 2008 World Champion Emil Oehman won the event but it was not enough to defend the Title.

 

It was a great race in the winter center Mala. More than 8000 noisy spectators were supporting home Swedish riders, who reached a big success. They got the triple podium at the event, two Swedish riders finished top three in the World Championship Classification. A kilometer long race track was perfect prepared, interesting for riders and also for spectators. Emil Oehman (Lynx) won the Qualifying race of the first group with the big advantage in front of Niko Korsumaeki (Lynx). Swedish riders started to dominate in the second Qualifying race, where Peter Ericson (Lynx) took the pole position. They continued the big predominance also in the race.

 

The Championship standings were mixed already after the first race. Emil Oehman was controlling his leadership from the very beginning and he won. He acquired one position. Peter Ericson finished second. After the first race Ericson was leading the Championship for only four points in front of Oehman. Niko Korsumaeki, who finished seventh, was only for two points behind Oehman. There was only one more start in the season 2009 and as the first three riders were very close, the fight for the new World Championship was still opened.

 

Everything was clear in last metres of the Championship because the whole race was very exciting. American rider Brett Bender (Polaris) was leading half of the race. Home rider Adam Renheim (Arctic Car) was riding behind him all the time. When Renheim passed Bender, he took the first win just on the last race. Bender lost some more positions but at the end he finished second. For Emil Oehman it was not a successful race. He did not take the good start. Then he crashed after some laps and he could not come to the top. When Peter Ericson crossed the final line as the third rider, it was clear that he won the Championship.

 

The winner of the Swedish event was Emil Oehman, but this victory was not as all the others, because he could not defend his Title at the home event. Peter Ericson finished second, Adam Renheim was very happy for the third position, Brett Bender finished fourth and another American rider Matt Judnick (Polaris) was fifth.

 

Peter Ericson became the FIM Snowcross World Champion 2009. Emil Oehman is second rider of the season. Finnish rider Niko Korsumaeki finished his career as the third rider of the World Championship. Adam Renheim finished on the fourth position. On the fifth and sixth position are Swedish riders Petter Narsa and Viktor Stenman, who were both riding better in the first part of the Championship.

 

RIDER’S COMMENTS

THE FINAL RACE:

1^st – EMIL OEHMAN (Sweden): “I knew I must to win both races if I want to defend the World Title. I tried to ride more than 100% in this race. I won the first race but I did not have enough sports luck in the second. I had a bad start and I also crashed. Then I could not made up my arrears and it was not enough to win the Championship. I was competing here in Mala for the second time.”

 

2^nd – PETER ERICSON (Sweden): “I gave my best on this race because I wanted to get the Title. I was decided to go for all or nothing. I was not thinking about the points, I was focused only on my riding. My second start was not good. After it was difficult to see in front as there was lot of the snow dust all over the track. At the previous event in Oppdal I did my best result, so after we tried to change some things with the team and today I was feeling more certain.”

 

3^rd – ADAM RENHEIM (Sweden): “It was one of the best races in my life. I feel very good and I am happy about my result. At the beginning I had some problems, but at the end everything went well. The settings of my snowmobile were suitable to today’s situation. I enjoy in long jumps and today the race track was just perfect for me. I am very satisfied to win the first podium in front of Swedish spectators.”

 

THE FIM SNOWCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATION:

The World Champion – PETER ERICSON (Sweden): “I think it was one of my best races. It was nice to get the World Championship Title so close to my home. Here were many of my fans today. At the moment there are many strong and fast riders competing in the World Championship and it is difficult to come close to the top. This is the reason that I am even happier for my success. I have not been thinking about my future, yet. There are ups and downs in sport and I am glad that I am at the top again after the last season, when I had many problems.”

 

The World Vice-Champion – EMIL OEHMAN (Sweden): “Many new, strong riders joined the World Championship. I was working hard the whole winter time. It was a good season and results were narrows at every race. Of course I am sad to loose the World Championship Title, but at the other side I am also glad to finish second. I am happy for Peter Ericson, who won the Title. I will start to make my plans for the next season in one month.”

 

3^rd from the World Championship Classification – NIKO KORSUMAEKI (Finland): “I am very satisfied with my season. There are many young and fast riders coming in the Championship. I think it is time to finish my career. It is wonderful to finish at the Top 3 riders in the World Championship. I was enjoying here in Sweden the whole weekend, specially today in the last start of my career. The first race was not very successful for me, it was very slippery at the start. I think I was even last after the in the first corner. In the second race I was riding much better.”

 

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Malå Snöskoterklubb

Information, photos and results are online at www.worldsnowcross.com, the official website of the FIM Snowcross World Championship.

 

Freecaster.tv is the prime source of LIVE and On-Demand coverage for action sports on the Internet. Watch the 2009 FIM MX1/MX2/MX3 and Women’s World Championships, the 2009 SuperMoto World Championship and the 2009 FIM Snowcross World Championship races exclusively, LIVE and free on www.freecaster.tv.

 

Youthstream is the company that manages the exclusive television, marketing and promotional world wide rights of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FIM Motocross of Nations, the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, the FIM Veteran's Motocross World Cup, the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, the FIM SuperMoto World Championship, the FIM SuperMoto of Nations, the FIM Snowcross World Championship, the UEM Motocross European Championship, the UEM Motocross of European Nations and the UEM SuperMoto European Championship.

 

www.worldsnowcross.com

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