LEVI SKI CENTER, KITTILÄ (Finland), 05 May 2018 - The 2018 FIM Snowcross World Championship is in the books from the Levi Ski Center in Kittilä, Finland. The best Snowcross riders in the world joined up with the Women’s Snowcross World Cup and the European Snowcross Championship for epic racing on the slopes of Levi today.

Taking the World Championship title for his third year in a row was Adam Renheim while his sister, Marica Renheim, claimed the Women’s World Cup and Pär Vikman dominated the European Championship. 

Snowcross World Championship

In the first two races of the World Championship class the holeshot was taken by Norway’s Elias Ishoel on his Ski Doo with Martin Moland in second and back to back champion Adam Renheim 3rd.

Early in the race Moland took the lead from Ishoel and Renheim followed to move into 2nd. On the 5th of 22 laps Renheim took over the lead in the technical downhill rythm section of the track.

After his pass Renheim grew his gap with lap times of 1 second quicker than his nearest competitor. On lap 12 the previous leader, Moland, crashed hard on the same downhill in which he was passed and did not finish the race.

With the crash from Moland, Renheim took a dominant win with Nisse Kjellström in 2nd and Ishoel 3rd across the finish.

Race 2’s holeshot went to Renheim with Aki Pihlaja in second and Nisse Kjellström in 3rd. During the 3rd lap Pihlaja surprised Renheim with his great speed in the downhill section allowing him to take over 1st.

3 laps later Renheim came back to pass for the lead on the same downhill but then Pihlaja passed him back in the same fashion the following lap. Pihlaja’s fight and resilience gave him the race win, but Renheim’s 2nd gave him the overall victory for his 3rd title in as many years.

Snowcross World Championship Race 1 Top 10: 1. Adam Renheim (SWE, Ski-Doo), 16:57.686; 2. Nisse Kjellström (SWE, Arctic Cat), +0:11.907; 3. Elias Ishoel (NOR, Ski-Doo), +0:14.991; 4. Emil Harr (SWE, Lynx), +0:17.460; 5. Aki Pihlaja (FIN, Lynx), +0:24.678; 6. Viktor Herten (FIN, Polaris), +0:33.181; 7. Oskar Norum (SWE, Polaris), +0:39.784; 8. Balder Näs (SWE, Arctic Cat), +0:42.844; 9. Magnus Reiten (NOR, Lynx), +0:45.484; 10. Marcus Ogemar (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:46.724.

Snowcross World Championship Race 2: 1. Aki Pihlaja (FIN, Lynx), 16:58.608; 2. Adam Renheim (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:09.696; 3. Martin Moland (NOR, Arctic Cat), +0:13.084; 4. Nisse Kjellström (SWE, Arctic Cat), +0:24.590; 5. Oskar Norum (SWE, Polaris), +0:26.194; 6. Marcus Ogemar (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:31.769; 7. Kristoffer Holm (NOR, Polaris), +0:35.860; 8. John Stenberg (SWE, Lynx), +0:40.780; 9. Magnus Reiten (NOR, Lynx), +0:43.745; 10. Emil Harr (SWE, Lynx), -1 lap(s).

Snowcross World Championship Overall: 1. Adam Renheim (SWE, SKI), 47 points; 2. Aki Pihlaja (FIN, LYN), 41 p.; 3. Nisse Kjellström (SWE, ARC), 40 p.; 4. Oskar Norum (SWE, POL), 30 p.; 5. Emil Harr (SWE, LYN), 29 p.; 6. Marcus Ogemar (SWE, SKI), 26 p.; 7. Viktor Herten (FIN, POL), 25 p.; 8. Magnus Reiten (NOR, LYN), 24 p.; 9. Kristoffer Holm (NOR, POL), 22 p.; 10. John Stenberg (SWE, LYN), 22 p.


Women’s Snowcross World Cup

The women’s racing started off with Malene Andersen taking the holeshot over Elvira Lindh and Marica Renheim in third. On the first lap Renheim moved to second and proceeded to battle between with Andersen for the lead.

The racing was however cut short when Julia Mosshäll crashed on the finish during lap eleven. A red flag was then displayed to insure the safety of the injured rider. With the red flag the position from the last completed lap, lap 10, were recorded as the final result with Andersen first, Renheim second and Emilia Dahlgren third.

Race 2 started with another holeshot from Andersen but this time she had Renheim right on her tail from the start. On the second lap Dahlgren moved into third, taking the spot from Elvira Lindh.

Andersen and Reinheim again had an epic battle but on lap 11 a crash from Andersen on the downhill gave Renheim the lead. Andersen remounted but Renheim took the Race 2 win which gave her the edge required to take the 2018 World Cup title.

Renheim became the second rider in the family to be crowned victorious this weekend alongside her brother Adam. Andersen took second overall and Dahlgren took 3rd.

Women’s World Cup Race 1: 1. Malene Andersen (NOR, Arctic Cat), 7:53.324; 2. Marica Renheim (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:03.019; 3. Emilia Dahlgren (SWE, Polaris), +0:25.498; 4. Elvira Lindh (SWE, Arctic Cat), +0:43.847; 5. Susanna Lemström (FIN, Lynx), +0:47.074; 6. Matilda Johansson (SWE, Lynx), +0:48.179; 7. Fanny Vikström (SWE, Lynx), +0:49.941; 8. Matilda Norberg (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:51.471; 9. Jenny Lundström (SWE, Lynx), -1 lap(s); 10. Birgitte Olsen (NOR, Lynx), -1 lap(s)

Women’s World Cup Race 2: 1. Marica Renheim (SWE, Ski-Doo), 12:07.774; 2. Malene Andersen (NOR, Arctic Cat), +0:30.896; 3. Emilia Dahlgren (SWE, Polaris), +0:46.939; 4. Fanny Vikström (SWE, Lynx), -1 lap(s); 5. Birgitte Olsen (NOR, Lynx), -1 lap(s); 6. Matilda Johansson (SWE, Lynx), -1 lap(s); 7. Susanna Lemström (FIN, Lynx), -1 lap(s); 8. Jenny Lundström (SWE, Lynx), -1 lap(s); 9. Matilda Norberg (SWE, Ski-Doo), -1 lap(s); 10. Elvira Lindh (SWE, Arctic Cat), -1 lap(s

Women’s World Cup Overall: 1. Marica Renheim (SWE, SKI), 47 points; 2. Malene Andersen (NOR, ARC), 47 p.; 3. Emilia Dahlgren (SWE, POL), 40 p.; 4. Fanny Vikström (SWE, LYN), 32 p.; 5. Matilda Johansson (SWE, LYN), 30 p.; 6. Susanna Lemström (FIN, LYN), 30 p.; 7. Elvira Lindh (SWE, ARC), 29 p.; 8. Birgitte Olsen (NOR, LYN), 27 p.; 9. Jenny Lundström (SWE, LYN), 25 p.; 10. Matilda Norberg (SWE, SKI), 25 p.


European Snowcross Championship

The first race of the European championship was predominately led by Pär Vikman with Sami Huttunenin second the first 8 laps. Robert Lunden started 4th but, after he dropped to 5th the first lap, worked his way forward into 2nd by lap 9.

As Lunden surged forward Huttunenin dropped to 6th position. Lunden soon applied pressure to Vikman and then took over the lead on lap 14. Vikman followed the new leader for 3 laps before mounting a charge and passing Lunden back. Across the finish Vikman took a well deserved race win with Lunden second and Jonas Laakkonen 3rd.

Race 2 started much better for Norway’s Lunden as he led the first lap but Vikman found his around the Norwegian by lap 2. Lunden was also passed by another Vikman, this time Jens Vikman on lap 4 for 2nd place.

Lunden was back into 2nd the next lap and remained in the same spot the remainder of the race. Pär Vikman took the race win for the perfect result and clear overall with Robert Lunden second and Jonas Laakkonen 3rd overall.

Don’t forget, Youthstream’s crew of TV staff documented the racing and you can tune into www.MXGP-TV.com to watch the 22 min Magazine of the event next week. All the photos will be available HERE and by clicking HERE you will be able to obtain the complete results.

Quick Facts:
Track length: 540m
Weather conditions: Partly Cloudy
Temperature: +7
Crowd attendance: 2,000

LINKS
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