In what many deem to be the biggest and most important race in the snowmobile industry, Team Sportech and first year pro Paul Bauerly put together an impressive performance at ESPN’s Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado this past January 31st. Pitted against a field of the world’s best snocross talents, Bauerly rode his best race of the season, finishing just outside of medal contention, but proving he is a bonafide future star in the sport of snocross.

Rolling into the bright lights and television cameras of Winter X, Team HMK/Sportech was feeling the pressure of racing on the world’s biggest snocross stage. But solid preparation, expertly tuned equipment and a level head were the ingredients Bauerly and company used to execute a shining performance on the slopes of Aspen. It started with a Speedwerx tuned Arctic Cat Sno-Pro that was dominating off the line throughout the weekend. Snaring consistent holeshots was key on the giant Winter X track that was extremely technical and wicked fast in nature yet yielded few opportunities for passing.

In the heat race, Paul grabbed the lead early on and hung on for a solid third place finish, enough to ensure he scored a front row spot at the line for the biggest final of his young pro career. Lined up against the likes of multi-time gold medal winner Tucker Hibbert, former Pro Open champion Ross Martin and the multi-talented Levi LaVallee, Bauerly had to face a field of formidable and determined riders. Yet when the green flew in the final, Paul nailed the holeshot again and emerged from the enormous field in third place. With a grueling 20 laps in front of him, Paul rode the race of his dawning pro career, holding on for a fifth place finish at the line.

“This performance comes at a great time for us,” said Team Owner Chris Carlson. “Paul’s confidence is soaring after this race, and with five races left in the ISOC National series, Paul knows he has what it takes to run up front and gain his first pro podium. While we would have loved to have came home with a medal, his performance was outstanding.”

The team pulled out of Aspen almost immediately after the race, having little time to regroup as they rolled across the country to the next stop on the ISOC tour, the Eastern Nationals in Farmington, New York, February 5-6.