By Gary Walton
After the rapid unfolding of events on Thursday March 12, a declaration capping the number of people allowed to gather at public functions in Michigan, forced the cancellation of rounds 13 and 14 of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross tour. With Friday morning practice complete and the first Sport heat race on the line, riders were called from their machines as ISOC officials made them aware that the race had been shut down by order of the governor.
Just twenty-four hours later, it was announced that the state of Wisconsin would begin implementing similar protocol and ISOC was forced to cancel the season finale at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva. The cost of these cancellations has had a profound impact on the teams, media and families who had already spent tens of thousands of dollars on travel and accommodations and is catastrophic for the series. Many mechanics, photographers and track workers are paid by the event, which means dozens have straight up lost out on a month’s worth of income.
ISOC had just recently been compensated for a contract that was under dispute by Spirit Mountain for the loss of rounds one and two in Duluth, Minnesota in November. That compensation, however, does not make up for the lost race entries from that event and the additional expense to hold three day races at each of the next two venues to make up those rounds. The loss of the series finale is even more significant as it is reported to be ISOC’s most profitable weekend.
Furthermore, by losing what is effectively one quarter of the 16 round season, a shadow is cast over what are now the official point standings. Granted, Pro and Pro Lite point leaders Elias Ishoel and Francis Pelletier are deserving champions who had positioned themselves in the right place at the right time, but the 2020 season will forever be viewed with an asterisk as there was a lot of great racing yet to come. This, of course, goes for all of the Sport and amateur class racers who were also contending for championships that will go somewhat unfulfilled.
It should also be noted that the race in Grand Rapids took an unusually unfair hit. This was the first time the series had travelled to the region and the Cannonsburg Ski Area venue was shaping up to be one of the better stops of the season. Hopefully, all parties concerned will recover financially and in 12 months time, sponsors, fans and the community will look back on the 2020 fallout surrounding the race and everything that is taking place in the world at the moment, and give it a mulligan, as it deserves a chance to keep its place on the schedule.
