PIHLAJA AND JONSSON TAKE WORLD TITLES AS PERSEN SECURES EUROPEAN CROWN IN TRONDHEIM -

*(Left to right) Isak Persen, Wilma Jonsson, Aki Pihlaja*

Trondheim (Norway) 11th April 2026 – The 2026 FIM Snowcross World Championship reached its conclusion in Trondheim, Norway, where the season’s final round delivered spectacular racing under blue skies, sunshine and windy conditions, with temperatures hovering around 8°C. The circuit, built with the input of former World Champion Elias Ishoel, who came out of retirement to rider in the European Class, offered a fast layout, technical, bumpy and unforgiving, pushing riders to their limits.

Across the weekend, Gustav Sahlsten delivered a dominant performance in the SNX class, while Aki Pihlaja secured his second career world title through consistency and race management. In WSNX, Wilma Jonsson capped off a near-perfect season to claim her first world championship, while the European ESNX category saw Isak Persen take overall victory despite a standout home win from Ishoel.

SNX

As the gate dropped, Gustav Sahlsten launched to a perfect holeshot and immediately set the tone. The Swede was in a league of his own, opening a gap early and controlling the race from the front.

Midway through the race, Sahlsten had a brief scare over one of the jumps, momentarily losing balance as his sled stepped out, but he quickly recovered and maintained his rhythm. Behind him, the race remained relatively steady, with no major incidents affecting the front runners.

Aki Pihlaja rode a composed race, focusing on consistency rather than taking risks, while Filip Harr’s race ended early due to technical issues after just a few laps. Aki Pesonen and Topi Posti completed solid rides inside the top positions, but no one was able to challenge Sahlsten for the win.

Race 2 opened with a surprise as Norway’s Robert Lunden stormed to the holeshot, briefly leading to the delight of the home crowd. However, it didn’t take long for Sahlsten to assert his dominance, quickly taking over the lead within the opening lap.

Once in front, Sahlsten delivered another outstanding performance, riding aggressively and flawlessly on the demanding track to secure his second win of the day. His speed and commitment stood out, especially through the rough, technical sections.
Behind him, Pihlaja once again rode with intelligence and control. Knowing the championship was within reach, the Finn avoided unnecessary risks, managing the race perfectly to secure the points needed for the title.

With two race wins, Sahlsten claimed maximum points and the overall victory in Trondheim, ahead of Aki Pihlaja and Topi Rinne.

Pihlaja Claims Second Crown

Consistency across the season proved decisive, as Aki Pihlaja secured his second FIM Snowcross World Championship title. Despite not taking the overall win in Trondheim, his smart and calculated approach ensured he stayed out of trouble and delivered when it mattered most.

After a more challenging season compared to his previous title campaign, Pihlaja showed resilience and experience, especially against a deep and competitive field. Olle Sahlström managed to maintain his second place in the championship despite the great charge from Topi Rinne, finally third on the Championship Podium

Aki Pihlaja: “It’s very nice to have another one. This year was a lot more work compared to 2023, more races, more problems, not that good starts. I’m not retiring yet… more work, more testing, better starts next season.”

SNX NORWAY – OVERALL
SNX NORWAY – CHAMPIONSHIP

WSNX

The women’s class in Trondheim may have featured a smaller field, but it was all about one rider —Wilma Jonsson— who delivered a flawless performance to secure her first world title.
Jonsson once again demonstrated her trademark starts, taking the holeshot and immediately building a comfortable lead. From there, she controlled the race with confidence and precision, navigating the demanding circuit without mistakes.

As she crossed the finish line, celebrations began instantly, as it became clear that the Swede had done enough to clinch the championship title. With the pressure off, Jonsson lined up for Race 2 already crowned World Champion. She repeated the script—another strong start, another holeshot, and another dominant ride.

Free of pressure, she looked relaxed and in full control, cruising to her second win of the weekend to complete a perfect score in Trondheim. A perfect 1-1 result gave Jonsson maximum points and the overall victory, ahead of Mali Hoelsaeter and Tilde Karelius.

After several seasons of near-misses, Wilma Jonsson finally secured her first FIM Women’s Snowcross World Championship title. Her 2026 campaign was defined by consistency and dominance, winning almost every heat across the season and overcoming the setbacks that had previously denied her the crown.

Wilma Jonsson:“It has been some tough years… I always had some crash or unlucky events. So it feels super nice now to actually do everything and win almost every heat. For now, I just enjoy riding it’s pure fun.”

*WSNX World Championship Podium 2026 (Patricia Maskarova – Infront Moto Racing SNX General Manager, WSNX Podium, Mia Maria Vepsalainen – Member of the FIM Women’s Commission*

WSNX NORWAY – OVERALL
WSNX NORWAY – CHAMPIONSHIP

ESNX

The European Championship added another exciting chapter to the Trondheim weekend, with a strong field and a special storyline surrounding local hero Elias Ishoel, who both contributed to building the track and returned to race on home snow.

The opening race saw Persen take control and secure victory with a strong and consistent performance. Behind him, Linus Pettersson and Hugo Rinne completed the podium.
Ishoel showed flashes of speed, even setting the fastest lap of the race, but early issues dropped him down the order, preventing him from fighting for the win.

Race 2 belonged to Ishoel. Determined to deliver in front of his home crowd, the Norwegian came out firing and dominated the race, taking a commanding victory.

It was a statement ride on a track he helped design—showcasing both his skill and his deep understanding of the circuit.

Despite Ishoel’s Race 2 win, it was Isak Persen’s consistency across both races that secured him the overall victory and the European Title. Ishoel finished second overall with Pettersson third on the podium. However, it was the consistency of Jan Even Romsdal over the Qualifying of Friday and today’s races that propelled the Norwegian to the third step of the ChampionshipPodium for a 100% Norwegian Trio!