RIDERS ADAPT TO HIGH-ALTITUDE RACING IN TÜRKIYE’S SNX QUALIFIERS

KAYSERI-ERCIYES (Turkiye) 15 March 2025 – The Qualifying Heats for the SNX of Turkiye at the Kayeri-Erciyes SNX Track were nothing short of thrilling, with intense competition and dramatic comebacks. Riders pushed their limits across the the challenging track to set the stage for an exciting main event.

The conditions in Erciyes were particularly challenging, with temperatures reaching 15ºC. Racing at high altitude posed unique challenges for the riders. Sleds reacted differently compared to races in the Scandinavian countries, requiring specific setup adjustments to optimize performance. Additionally, the snow was melting quickly, making track conditions unpredictable and demanding quick adaptability from the riders.

SNX QUALIGYING HEATS

Group 1 – Qualifying Heat 1

The first heat in Group 1 was highly dramatic as Elias Ishoel, one of the top contenders, suffered a crash early in the race. Despite this setback, he managed to recover from sixth position, closing the gap to the front. However, the young and talented Topi Rinne, just 16 years old, showcased his skills by maintaining his lead. The battle for first place came down to the final jump, with Ishoel and Rinne crossing the finish line almost simultaneously. Ultimately, Rinne’s transponder was registered first, securing him the victory by a margin of just 0.133 seconds.

Results – Group 1 Heat 1:

1. Topi Rinne (FIN) – LYNX – 6:47.676
2. Elias Ishoel (NOR) – SKI-DOO – 6:47.809 (+0.133)
3. Mille Andersson (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:53.683
4. Tore Gustavson (NOR) – ARCTIC CAT – 7:09.127
5. Linus Aberg (SWE) – LYNX – 7:12.532

1. Topi Rinne (FIN, Lynx), 6:47.676; 2. Elias Ishoel (NOR, Ski-Doo), +0:00.133; 3. Mille Andersson (SWE, KTM), +0:06.007; 4. Tore Gustavson (NOR, Arctic Cat), +0:21.451; 5. Linus Aberg (SWE, Lynx), +0:24.856; 6. Juuso Ylipahkala (FIN, KTM), +0:26.166; 7. Jesse Kirchmeyer (USA, Polaris), +0:44.468; 8. Michele Donazzan (ITA, Lynx), +0:47.828; 9. Galip Alp Baysan (TUR, Lynx), +0:43.085; 10. Miika Lammi (FIN, Lynx), +-3:39.064;

Group 2 – Qualifying Heat 1

Group 2’s first heat saw a dominant performance by Aki Pihlaja, who controlled the race from start to finish. With a commanding margin of victory of over seven seconds, he set the fastest lap of the session at 58.101 seconds. Martin Johansson and Kristoffer Holm rounded out the podium, but neither could match Pihlaja’s pace.

Results – Group 2 Heat 1:

1. Aki Pihlaja (FIN) – LYNX – 6:44.631
2. Martin Johansson (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:52.063 (+7.432)
3. Kristoffer Holm (NOR) – POLARIS – 7:00.263
4. Aleksi Juntunen (FIN) – SKI-DOO – 7:03.553
5. Robert Lunden (NOR) – SKI-DOO – 7:05.221

1. Aki Pihlaja (FIN, Lynx), 6:44.631; 2. Martin Johansson (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:07.432; 3. Kristoffer Holm (NOR, Polaris), +0:15.632; 4. Aleksi Juntunen (FIN, Ski-Doo), +0:18.922; 5. Robert Lunden (NOR, Ski-Doo), +0:20.590; 6. Hakon Berge (NOR, Lynx), +0:23.938; 7. Ole-Herman Sjogren (NOR, Lynx), +0:26.853; 8. Marco Galli (ITA, Ski-Doo), +0:35.209; 9. Mario Balcierak (SVK, Ski-Doo), +0:56.539; 10. Joey Schillaci (FRA, Ski-Doo), +0:20.458;

Group 1 – Qualifying Heat 2

Elias Ishoel bounced back strongly in the second heat, displaying his championship-winning form. He clocked the fastest lap of the day at 55.726 seconds and took the victory with a margin of 1.670 seconds over Mille Andersson. Topi Rinne, the winner of Heat 1, finished third.

Results – Group 1 Heat 2:

1. Elias Ishoel (NOR) – SKI-DOO – 6:36.461
2. Mille Andersson (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:38.131 (+1.670)
3. Topi Rinne (FIN) – LYNX – 6:40.048
4. Jesse Kirchmeyer (USA) – POLARIS – 6:58.197
5. Linus Aberg (SWE) – LYNX – 7:03.128

1. Elias Ishoel (NOR, Ski-Doo), 6:36.461; 2. Mille Andersson (SWE, KTM), +0:01.670; 3. Topi Rinne (FIN, Lynx), +0:03.587; 4. Jesse Kirchmeyer (USA, Polaris), +0:21.736; 5. Linus Aberg (SWE, Lynx), +0:26.667; 6. Juuso Ylipahkala (FIN, KTM), +0:33.719; 7. Michele Donazzan (ITA, Lynx), +0:40.360; 8. Tore Gustavson (NOR, Arctic Cat), +0:40.871; 9. Galip Alp Baysan (TUR, Lynx), +0:45.051; 10. Miika Lammi (FIN, Lynx), +-3:10.332;

Group 2 – Qualifying Heat 2

Aki Pihlaja continued his dominant run in Heat 2 of Group 2, securing another win. However, this time Martin Johansson was closer, finishing just 2.501 seconds behind. Aleksi Juntunen improved his performance, finishing in third place.

Results – Group 2 Heat 2:

1. Aki Pihlaja (FIN) – LYNX – 6:55.918
2. Martin Johansson (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:58.419 (+2.501)
3. Aleksi Juntunen (FIN) – SKI-DOO – 7:13.316
4. Hakon Berge (NOR) – LYNX – 7:16.239
5. Ole-Herman Sjøgren (NOR) – LYNX – 7:20.655

1. Aki Pihlaja (FIN, Lynx), 6:55.918; 2. Martin Johansson (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:02.501; 3. Aleksi Juntunen (FIN, Ski-Doo), +0:17.398; 4. Hakon Berge (NOR, Lynx), +0:20.321; 5. Ole-Herman Sjogren (NOR, Lynx), +0:24.737; 6. Kristoffer Holm (NOR, Polaris), +0:26.190; 7. Marco Galli (ITA, Ski-Doo), +0:29.587; 8. Mario Balcierak (SVK, Ski-Doo), +0:49.785; 9. Joey Schillaci (FRA, Ski-Doo), +0:18.390; 10. Robert Lunden (NOR, Ski-Doo), +-6:01.428;

WSNX QUALIFYING HEATS

The women’s category was filled with surprises. Vilma Jonsson, a hot contender, had a crash during free practice on the wave section, raising concerns about whether she would even participate in the heats. Despite battling sickness, she managed to compete and delivered a strong performance.

Additionally, Saga Forsell, who won the first heat, suffered a spectacular fall in the second. Forsell rolled downhill after coming off her sled, yet she managed to recover and finish the race despite the setback. She was also struggling with illness, making her performance even more remarkable.

Results – WSNX Heat 1:

1. Saga Forsell (FIN) – POLARIS – 6:17.093
2. Wilma Jonsson (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:24.799 (+7.706)
3. Tilde Karelius (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:26.209
4. Elise Jonsson (SWE) – LYNX – 6:28.719
5. Emma Laamanen (FIN) – LYNX – 6:32.709

1. Saga Forsell (FIN, Polaris), 6:17.093; 2. Wilma Jonsson (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:07.706; 3. Tilde Karelius (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:09.116; 4. Elise Jonsson (SWE, Lynx), +0:11.626; 5. Emma Laamanen (FIN, Lynx), +0:15.616; 6. Kelly Collier (USA, Ski-Doo), +0:22.736; 7. Victoria Laine (FIN, Ski-Doo), +0:23.248; 8. Samantha Gillieron (SUI, Lynx), +0:30.212;

Results – WSNX Heat 2:

1. Wilma Jonsson (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:26.238
2. Tilde Karelius (SWE) – SKI-DOO – 6:28.566 (+2.328)
3. Saga Forsell (FIN) – POLARIS – 6:34.724
4. Emma Laamanen (FIN) – LYNX – 6:40.607
5. Victoria Laine (FIN) – LYNX – 6:41.578

1. Wilma Jonsson (SWE, Ski-Doo), 6:26.238; 2. Tilde Karelius (SWE, Ski-Doo), +0:02.328; 3. Saga Forsell (FIN, Polaris), +0:08.486; 4. Emma Laamanen (FIN, Lynx), +0:14.369; 5. Victoria Laine (FIN, Ski-Doo), +0:15.340; 6. Elise Jonsson (SWE, Lynx), +0:16.520; 7. Kelly Collier (USA, Ski-Doo), +0:24.975; 8. Samantha Gillieron (SUI, Lynx), +0:31.251;

SNX LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER

Robert Lunden, who is typically a strong top-10 competitor, faced technical issues during the qualifying heats, which put him at a disadvantage. However, he made an impressive comeback in the Last Chance Qualifier, securing victory and earning his spot in the main event.

The qualifying heats were packed with action, comebacks, and intense competition. In the WSNX category, Vilma Jonsson’s determination to race despite injury and illness was commendable, while Saga Forsell’s ability to finish despite a dramatic fall added to the excitement. The high-altitude conditions and rapidly melting snow added further challenges for all riders, requiring precise adjustments to their snowmobiles. With such competitive racing, the main round on Sunday promises to be even more electrifying.

Find All the results in the Sportity App: Add event password SNX2025

Stay tuned to WorldSnowcross.com, MXGP’s social media, and @snowcross_official on Instagram for the latest updates.

LINKS:

• Infront Moto Racing

• FIM