Realizing he had the speed after placing 5th in the category, during qualifications last weekend. William will begin the quest in August, in Alma, via the Lac-Saint-Jean motocross circuit.
“I will be able to perform well in this category, probably better than in Junior, which is fairly unpredictable,” said the 20 year-old athlete; who is used to tough competition from racing snocross in the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt.
The racer, with the plaque #14, facing rough weather conditions at the start of the season, including heavy rain and mud. Although he hadn’t expected such a start to his final Junior year, William Saint-Laurent believes in his chances of finishing on a high note in the Inter class. “Last year I finished 4th in the Championship. I was almost on the track to get to Intermediate. This year, my first goal was to win the Junior Category, as this is my last year. It’s a little rock’n’roll. It didn’t really turn out the way I wanted at all. I’ve never really competed in the mud; it was quite a challenge. It was pretty extreme. My expectations have not been met yet. The third weekend of competition went better for William Saint-Laurent, however. Despite all this adversity, the very sympathetic and determined young man always continued to work.
“Faced with that, you are working extra hard,’ he said. “In fact, I have never done as many hours as I have this season. When I see that, I know the speed is there, we are preparing even better and we hope for the best…I think my goal is to win, obviously. It’s always to win obviously. It’s always that. I think I can, I have the speed. It just remains to put the pieces of the puzzle together.”
Although he wants to finish on the top step of the podium, William Saint-Laurent performs in motocross primarily for fun. “It’s out of passion, there is nothing serious; it’s no more serious than that. In winter, we have big seasons, in summer, we take it more relaxed.
A Circuit at Home
Unlike many athletes, William Saint-Laurent only rides in Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean in the SLSJ circuit. He took a more serious look at motocross in 2017 and his adventures have never stopped since. “It’s mostly basically to keep the focus during the summer; that’s why I compete too, ” remarks the one who has been racing snocross for much longer, “but it allows me to start my training stronger and get on the snowmobile quite strong”, in an interval of about 30 minutes around his home.
“I don’t just ride. To have to lead in the races all the time, to be ready and to get ahead of others and having competition and in form as well…just the fact that I keep my shape from winter to summer, it shows. Of course in the fall, the weather is a bit colder, but it allows me to start my training stronger and get on the snowmobile quite strong. In an interval of about 30 minutes around his home, William can easily get to six or seven race tracks. He decided to race only on the SlJC circuit, “just because it’s a big regional circuit, for real, and we’re lucky here.” It’s really fun,’ it gives me the opportunity to be at home in the evening; everything is close. It’s a little less serious. It’s mostly for fun and training….it’s important to have fun or else I don’t think I would [race]. We don’t make a living with that. It really is a hobby and I count myself lucky that I can and allow myself to do it…we have a great family team. We’ve been involved for a long time. I think it shows too. We really have fun together. This weekend, William Saint-Laurent will be able to compete against the athletes of the Channel Quebec Motocross as the competition takes place in Desbiens