“Racing the Pro class is definitely stepping into the deep end, but my results showed our Polaris sleds are right on the pace to win races,” said Kadlec. “Racing the Soo was the highlight of my season. To step in as a rookie and have such a good run was a real confidence booster.”
Like Kadlec, Taylor Bunke also spent 2013-2014 as a rookie, only he was racing the highly-competitive Semi-Pro class. Bunke had a standout rookie showing, finishing 8th in Semi-Pro Improved points and 19th in Semi-Pro Stock.
“Semi-Pro is a big step up in speed from the Sport class,” said Taylor Bunke. “One thing I learned is there’s no room for error in this class and once I started eliminating the little mistakes my results got better.”
Team leader Gabe Bunke had one of his best cross-country seasons ever, winning three Pro Open races and taking second in two Pro 600 races before his USXC season was interrupted by the Iron Dog. Bunke traveled to Alaska in February to race the 2,000-mile Iron Dog as a rookie paired with veteran Scott Faeo. The Iron Dog runs from Big Lake, Alaska, to Nome and then back to East to the finish in Fairbanks. Racing as Team 20, Bunke/Faeo finished 10th overall on their Energy Release sponsored Polaris Indys. Finishing this race is a supreme challenge and winning it puts you among snowmobiling’s most elite racers.
“I’m a veteran cross-country racer but I was definitely a rookie at the Iron Dog,” said Bunke. “I knew going in that this isn’t a race you jump in and win the first time out. Having said that, our goal is to build on this and eventually win.”
“Our 2014 season couldn’t have gone much better,” Bunke continued. “The new Polaris snowmobiles were amazing and in my opinion we have the best lineup of sponsors in the sport backing us. We look forward to working with them all next season and winning more races together.”
For more information on Bunke Racing visit
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