Jan. 26, 2015 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck’s Tucker Hibbert put on a dominating performance at X Games Aspen 2015 to win a record eighth-consecutive Snocross gold medal. Now with 13 overall medals, he’s tied for first on X Games’ list for the most medals in a single winter discipline.
Typically, the X Games Snocross course features a wide start line, massive big-air jumps and sweeping banked corners but, this year, it was more like a minefield. Riders struggled to find rhythm on the rough, 45-second track. With his sled setup perfected for Aspen’s high-elevation, Hibbert relied on his years of experience and fitness to navigate the grueling course.
After winning his qualifying round, Hibbert locked-in the number qualifying position for the ten-rider, 20-lap final event. He once again chose the far inside for the short start straight. A little late on the throttle, he still had a good launch into the sharp right-hand first turn. He drifted wide over the field, avoiding getting tangled with another rider, and shot up the hill. With a clear course in front of him, he rode his own race and was never challenged for the win.
To celebrate winning his eighth-consecutive gold medal by over 20 seconds, Hibbert threw an uncharacteristic trick over the finish line. To honor his first X Games gold medal run in 2000, he threw his legs over his handlebars and executed a near-perfect heelclicker.
Next up for Hibbert is the fifth stop of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Deadwood, SD. With 99 Pro National victories, he’ll attempt to capture his 100th win this weekend at the Deadwood Shootout. For more information on Hibbert and the remainder of his 2015 snocross season, visit www.tucker-hibbert.com.
Tucker Hibbert – #68 Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck
“It feels amazing to have eight (gold medals) in a row. We (the team) have been working so hard. Every year, the competition gets stronger. You never know how it’s going to go so I’m stoked we came out with another gold. All of our hard work paid off.”
“The track was a lot different this year. It was really rough and changed throughout the race. Because my fitness is really good, I think it played to my advantage.”
“I’m having a ton of fun racing. The heelclicker was just to do something different. It’s not my style. A couple guys from Monster Energy were teasing me about the heelclicker because I threw one in 2000 when I won my first X Games. I didn’t think about it until I was ten feet from the finish. At first I thought I’d do a whip. Then, I remembered I should do a heelclicker. I just went for it. I’m still a little shocked I pulled it off so clean!”
“My team is a huge part of my success. I couldn’t do it without them. My sled is amazing. We all push each other to be the best and that’s why we keep winning.”
“We have a lot of racing left to do this season. We’re sitting strong in the ISOC Championship. We need to carry this momentum from X Games into the rest of the season. The celebration will end shortly and we’ll put all our focus back into the national series to keep winning races and win the championship.”
Fast Facts
- Hometown: Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
- Eight-Time National Snocross Champion, 99 Pro National Wins
- 13-Time X Games Medalist
- 2012 and 2010 FIM Snowcross World Champion
Resources: tucker-hibbert.com • monsterenergy.com • arcticcat.com • ramtrucks.com
###
Photo Credit: SnoX 365: