It’s Hibbert again! Monster Energy/Arctic Cat racer doubles up @ AMSOIL/Bessemer Snocross
Hibbert hammers the rest of the field in Pro Open, winning by 15-plus seconds; Polaris’ Jake Scott rebounds to win Pro Lites
For more information contact:
Pat Schutte, PR Director, ISOC Racing
Pat@ISOCRacing.com
BESSEMER, Mich. (Dec. 8, 2012) – Michigan’s legendary Big Snow Country played host to round four of 2012 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, presented by Traxxas – the Blackjack National – in front of a record crowd at the popular Upper Peninsula ski resort.
And again dominating the rest of the field in the premier Pro Open class was former multi-time overall championship winner Tucker Hibbert (Minnesota), while New York’s Jake Scott would take top honors in the Pro Lite division.
Pro Open
The only thing bigger than Monster Energy/Arctic Cat’s Tucker Hibbert’s MASSIVE start-to-race-lead in Saturday’s Pro Open final at Blackjack was the statement he sent to the rest of the Pro Open class with another win and a clean sweep of rounds three and four of AMSOIL Championship Snocross. Winning by 15-plus seconds on the tour’s most difficult track over Polaris’ Ross Martin and defending ACS Pro Open champ Tim Tremblay (AMSOIL/Ski-Doo), Hibbert – who dominated as well the previous night – is now just ten points back of Robbie Malinoski (AMSOIL/Ski-Doo), 165-155, for the overall Pro Open points lead.
“It was definitely a lot of fun out there,” said Hibbert. “But it’s a challenging track and I’m thankful I got the holeshot. There was a lot of hard work back at the shop the last two weeks to get this sled ripping. Glad we got up here with two wins this weekend.”
According to ISOC officials the short Stud Boy Holeshot was narrowly grabbed by Darrin Mees (AMSOIL/Ski-Doo). But before you could say new leader, Hibbert, with the seventh gate pick, had jetted past Mees and into the early race lead. As Hibbert checked out, setting the day’s fasted lap time (55.047) by an amazing two seconds, Mees would inherit 2nd based on his excellent start, with Martin blasting up to 3rd.
By lap six Hibbert’s lead was up to 7.5 seconds – and growing. Martin, who won at Blackjack last year, set up and passed Mees off turn one – pulling ahead of the Scheuring Speed Sports super team that included Mees, Tremblay (4th) and Duluth double winner Malinoski (5th).
About the only thing at this point in the race that could happened to Hibbert was a mistake – to which he made one in the second heat race when he went down in the middle of the “Dirty Dozen” downhill section on the face of Blackjack’s steep front ski run. But Hibbert wasn’t about to make that mistake a second time and gunned his Arctic Cat through seemingly impossible lines to take the 15-plus second win.
As Hibbert drew the checkers and set the AMSOIL Championship Snocross finish line pot fires off, the fans’ attention – both the thousands in attendance ‘Live’ at Blackjack along with those watching online all over the planet on Ustream.com – diverted their attention quickly to the battle for 2nd place between Martin and Tremblay (who had gotten past Mees on the previous lap).
“In the end I just ran out of time,” said Tremblay on his 3rd place finish.
Added Martin: “Feels great to be up here. The guys were up until 4 a.m. working on my sled, so thanks to my team for that.”
Official – Blackjack National – Pro Open #2 12/8/2012
Final
1 68 Hibbert Tucker Arctic Cat Pelican Rapids MN
2 837 Martin Ross Polaris Burlington WI
3 11 Tremblay Tim Ski-Doo Ste Jeanne D’Arc Quebec
4 9 Mees Darrin Ski-Doo Stanchfield MN
5 4 Malinoski Robbie Ski-Doo Lino Lakes MN
6 52 Lidman Johan Polaris Pitea Sweden
7 27 Ohman Emil Ski-Doo Pitea Norrbotten
8 324 Pallin Kyle Polaris Ironwood MI
9 53 Kamm Kody Polaris Kenosha WI
10 43 Christian Logan Arctic Cat Fertile MN
11 999 Crapo Colby Polaris St.Anthony ID
12 271 Narsa Petter Ski-Doo Moskosel
13 311 Renheim Adam Ski-Doo Lima
14 108 LaVallee Levi Polaris Longville MN
15 24 Bauerly Paul Ski-Doo Milaca MN
Pro Lite
Three new faces up on the Blackjack National Pro Lite podium on Sunday as Jake Scott (Polaris) put on a masterful performance in topping No. 1 qualifier John Stenberg (Ski-Doo) and 3rd place Renaud Alexandre (Ski-Doo).
“I was so pumped at the start. After I got by (Matt) Pichner I saw John Stenberg back there. He’s been running so good I got really nervous,” said Scott on his first win of the 2012-’13 AMSOIL Championship Snocross season and second trip to the podium. “But I just ended up riding smooth and I got up here. Pumped!”
Pulling the holeshot in the Pro Lite main was Arctic Cat’s Matt Pichner. Scott would move quickly into second place, but bided his time in making a move on Pichner for the lead. Midway through the contest, on lap four (of eight), Scott shot to the outside of Pichner on turn one and took the lead heading up the big uphill section. As he stated previously, Scott rode a smooth, calculating Pro Lite main at Blackjack and brought ‘er home for the win.
Stenberg, contesting his final ACS event in the States this year before moving back to Sweden to race, soon moved into 2nd place past Pichner and set his site on Scott. Alexandre then moved past Pichner – on the same section where Scott took the lead – and grabbed the third and final podium spot. The veteran Pichner would hold on to a solid 4th place finish and Friday’s Pro Lite main runner-up, Polaris’ James Johnstad would round out the top five.
Official – Blackjack National – Pro Lite #2 12/8/2012
Final
1 42 Scott Jake Polaris Port Jefferson Statio NY
2 259 Stenberg John Ski-Doo Lofsdalen Sweden
3 793 Alexandre Renaud Ski-Doo Val-D’or Quebec
4 193 Pichner Matt Arctic Cat Owatonna MN
5 154 Johnstad James Polaris Beltrami MN
6 115 Joanis David Ski-Doo Cochrane Ontario
7 202 Sagan Joey Ski-Doo Elmvale Ontario
8 436 Muller Travis Ski-Doo Windom MN
9 421 Hall Dylan Ski-Doo Ayr Ontario
10 122 Wallenstein Kevin Ski-Doo Cadillac MI
11 857 Lieders Andrew Polaris Colby WI
12 105 Kraus Jordan Polaris Osage MN
13 675 Rosemeyer Chase Ski-Doo Chippewa Falls WI
14 248 Nastala Brett Ski-Doo Milton WI
15 179 Anderson Korbyn Ski-Doo Allenton MI
Next up: Rounds five and six of AMSOIL Championship Snocross, presented by Traxxas, at Minnesota’s Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino, Jan. 4-5.
Who: 150 of the world’s top snowmobile racers
What: Round five and six of 2012-‘13 AMSOIL Championship Snocross
When: Jan. 4-5
Where: Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino, Shakopee, Minn.
Times: Friday: Gates open at 10 a.m., amateur racing begins at 11 a.m. and pro racing begins at 5 p.m. Saturday: Gates open at 9 a.m., amateur racing begins at 10 a.m. and pro racing begins at 5 p.m.
Host hotel: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
Tickets: General admission tickets are $15 for Friday and $15 for Saturday and $25 for a two-day pass. Children 5 and under are free. Tickets are available at the gate and online at snocross.com
More information: www.canterburypark.com
Photo credit: Wayne Davis & Lissa Marsolek
Beginning with AMSOIL Championship Snocross’ season-opening round in Duluth, Minn. (Nov. 23-25) and running through the season finale in Lake Geneva, Wis. (March 15-17), CBS Sports Network will broadcast 16 half-hour race shows – all in HD – on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. EST. The AMSOIL Championship Snocross – as an added bonus – will also air in an evening repeat of each show during the week.
CBS Sports Network’s coverage of 2012-’13 AMSOIL Championship Snocross begins Sunday, Dec. 30th, at 10:30 a.m. EST.
About CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) is the 24-hour cable destination of CBS Sports. The Network covers more than 340 live games annually, showcasing 30 men’s and women’s sports, in addition to a variety of studio shows, documentaries and original programs. CBSSN’s live programming is highlighted by college sports and also features professional lacrosse, Professional Bull Riding (PBR), the sports news and commentary show ROME and the Tim Brando Show. CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
About ISOC Racing
The International Series of Champions (ISOC) is the premier snowmobile race sanctioning organization in North America and sanctions national AMSOIL Championship Snocross, in addition to affiliating with nine regional circuits. Visit snocross.com for more information, fan and racer memberships, schedule details and more.