Sense of injustice among the Brodeurs. Megan Brodeur demoted to second in the league by referees’ decision:
Megan Brodeur #31 arrived as a possible winner at the final weekend of racing, at the World Championship Complex in Eagle River on March 26 and 27. She and rival Malene Andersen each had 581 points in the Isoc Pro Women’s Snocross Championship, and were battling for the title.
Friday started badly. A loose pulley in the first qualification made the Coaticook pilot lose points. She took the 5th place (DNF) of her heat, with 6 points, while Malene Andersen won hers, with 10 points.
Then in the 2nd qualification Malene kept the first place in front of the Quebec driver. Megane arrived with a deficit of 5 points in the final on Friday.
The start of the race was tight between the two drivers leading the championship. They took a comfortable lead over the field, and were neck and neck in the whoops.
Megan was about to take the lead when the very soft snow took her off the track, with no way to right the Ski-Doo. She slowed her pace and continued for four bumps on the edge of the track.
She climbed carefully, on the end of the track. There was no danger of being hit there, as the nearest competitors were 300 feet, ten bumps, behind.
In this case, the rules state that the driver who runs off the track must not take advantage of it. This was the case, as the American driver had escaped. Courageously, Megan used all her experience acquired with her triple Isoc championship crown, to get back on her opponent.
She was able to pass her and take first place. It was euphoria in the Brodeur and Anderson Racing camp. Megan Brodeur took the top step of the podium.
But the joy was short-lived. Officials gave the team a three-place penalty for joining the track in an unsafe manner..
Patrick Brodeur, his daughter’s mentor on the Anderson team, couldn’t believe his ears! He had seen Megan’s return to the track, which he thought was just right.
An official showed him videos. But the first one hid the off-track action because of a big billboard in front of the camera. The second showed the exit, but not the return to the track. Patrick expressed his doubts and pointed to the existence of other, more complete videos, but nothing helped. The points were taken away.
Sense of injustice among the Brodeurs –Conspiracy theory ?
Of course, as a Quebecer, making our champion lose points is a conspiracy, a plot, a betrayal! Why do this? All the theories could be put forward:
- The same champion four years in a row, will people get bored?
- Isn’t having a French-speaking champion from Quebec a selling point for the American market?
- An influential rival team would have tried to use the fact of the race to change the result?
No, the Anderson Racing team and the Brodeur Racing family are not going to go that far. But it is troubling that the fact of racing was not served immediately. A black flag should have been presented to Megan.
In defense of the judges, a billboard may have blocked the view of the return to the track. From the rear, the drivers could appear closer than they really were.
On Saturday, I’ll let you imagine the state Megan was in. Angry at having a deserved win taken away from her, especially with the comeback after the run-off.
But the champion did not let it get her down. She took advantage of the event to channel her energy into the day’s races.
The first qualifier went to Malene Andersen’s advantage in the lead over Brodeur in second. Then the two champions won each their “qualifier”.
It was time for the sixteenth and final feature of the season. Megan Brodeur took the holeshot, put the gas to the bottle and dominated this race from start to finish. She seemed to fly through the whoops and the 600cc Ski-Doo seemed very light in her capable hands. She crossed the finish line first, showing once again her talent and perseverance.
She won the last race with her head and shoulders, to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. A strong message to say see you next year. A champion’s answer on the track and not on a green carpet.
This last victory did not allow her to keep her title for the fourth consecutive year. Megan Brodeur is now the runner-up behind Norwegian-born Malene Andersen. This is the first title for this driver. She did not lose out because she won several races against Megan. The Norwegian has been racing on Ski-Doo since 2010, which still gives the Quebec brand SKI-DOO an additional title.
Patrick Brodeur’s opinion
Megan’s success is her determination, her sacrifices for training, her discipline, her courage, her talent. Without that, nothing would be possible. There is also her family and friends. Then there is her father, Patrick Brodeur, who is a mechanic, who knows how to make a track, who has racing experience.
Like Megan, Patrick is angry. He stood up for his point of view in front of the officials, or rather in front of an official who is at the center of the decision and wouldn’t change his mind. That’s his right. In a race series, drivers should be treated equally. When there is a dispute. There is a winner and a loser. Patrick Brodeur could go to the higher levels of the sport. Some have told him that with all the videos, he would probably win.
But there’s a flip side to every medal. What would it be like to return to the race next season? Would officials be more severe for daring to defy decisions? That’s a risk the Brodeur Racing clan doesn’t want to take. The game is not worth the medal.
Megan had a great season. She lost by 10 points to Malene over the entire championship, when a win is worth 25 points. In the second to last race, Megan’s demotion to fourth place takes away 7 points. Malene takes first place and gains three more points. The 10 points are back. And the win in the last race would have given Megan Brodeur the final advantage.
Patrick asked that Malene Anderson not be blamed. She had nothing to do with the decision. She is a good rider who has evolved and has beaten Megan on a regular basis a few times. Megan has raised the level of Pro Women’s snocross. Malene has adapted, progressed and the races are spicier. Other women will also raise their standards. The women’s sport wins.
Patrick Brodeur doesn’t understand why the alleged off-track infraction wasn’t reported during the race. A black flag should have been presented to Megan.
He hopes that the Series will take into account this event which is controversial in the snocross community, outside the Brodeur clan. The procedures must be recalled, the interventions in race must be specified, so that the American series does not lose credibility.
Because the objective is to win next year on this circuit, which is the most difficult in the world.
Patrick Brodeur said: I did my part with the officials, I showed them evidence, I explained our point of view. They didn’t listen. My credibility remains intact. I hope this event will be used to review the infringement procedures in the future. When we come to a race track, it’s to win or do our best. On the track, Megan did that. She is our champion.
It’s nice to see the reactions of the Quebecers who follow us and it hurts to lose on a decision. We will come back next year and work to win.
