Hibbert sweeps pro classes in season opener

Polaris rider Ross Martin led more main event laps at the AMSOIL Duluth National than any other pro rider. None of those laps, however, were the final one as Arctic Cat pilot Tucker Hibbert made late passes in both the Pro Open and Pro Super Stock to sweep the pro classes on the opening weekend of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series.

In Sunday’s Pro Open Martin powered his Judnick Motorsports/Jack Links Beef Jerky/Polaris to an early lead. For the first eight of 18 laps, Martin’s lead varied from two to ten sled lengths over Hibbert. Hibbert was the top qualifier coming into the final, but never looked his dominant self during the weekend.

Behind the leaders, Brett Turcotte (Ski-Doo), Johan Lidman (Arctic Cat) and Tim Tremblay (Ski-Doo) swapped positions on a regular basis, leaving the number three spot in question to the very end. As the frontrunners moved into lapped traffic Martin briefly pulled to his biggest lead of the afternoon. One lap later Hibbert used the lappers to his advantage and charged past Martin as the two made the leap downhill into the back straight. The Monster Energy Arctic Cat rider then distanced himself from the pack, launching to an enthusiastic fist pump as he crossed the finish line tabletop.

It didn’t come easy, but Tucker Hibbert took home wins in both Pro Open and Pro Super Stock.

Martin held for second while Turcotte capped one of his best days as a pro passing Lidman at the line for third. Tremblay rounded out the top five.

Ross Martin finished second to Hibbert in both of the Pro finals.

Saturday’s Pro Super Stock final played out in a similar fashion. From the drop of the green a pack of three racers, led my TJ Gulla (Polaris), battled side-by-side deep into the 20-lap main event.

Gulla, who was returning to action for the first time since being injured at the Duluth National in 2009, followed up on impressive performances in his qualifying rounds and jumped to the front of the field. Martin kept his Polaris racer glued to the tail of Gulla, while defending Pro Super Stock champ Tremblay held close in third. Hibbert, who had to do his share of passing in the qualifiers, was staked out in fourth but well back of Gulla.

Two laps in, Hibbert was able to get around Tremblay, while Gulla and Martin set pace. Martin was able to make his way to the lead at the one-third mark and pulled slightly ahead of the pack. Just a few laps later, the leaders approached lap traffic and Hibbert began to make his charge. With seven to go, Hibbert made his way around Gulla but the trio remained within a half second of each other. Finally, with three laps to go, Hibbert passed Martin at the finish to the approval of a large and boisterous crowd. Tremblay would come back to take third from Gulla, while Garth Kauffman rounded out the top five.

Thomsen, Ellis Earn Semi-Pro Victories

In the Semi-Pro division, the pecking order for the season was put on display on Saturday with little doubt about who the class favorites will be. Number one qualifier Darrin Mees jumped to an early lead on his AMSOIL Ski-Doo, while Cody Thomsen (Arctic Cat) continued his standout weekend in hot pursuit. Mike Bauer (Polaris) rebounded from his ugly crash on Friday night and gave chase in third.

Derek Ellis took home a win in Semi-Pro Super Stock Day 2.

Mees looked like he may have the speed to go wire-to-wire, but Thomsen found a quicker line down the back straight. Once the Arctic Cat racer was able to move into the lead he established a margin that enabled him to focus on a clear track and take the win. Mees held off a couple of challenges from Bauer to take the two spot, while Derek Ellis (Ski-Doo), another likely contender, finished fourth.

In Semi-Pro Super Stock Day 2, the usual suspects once again made themselves known as Mees, Ellis, Kyle Pallin (Arctic Cat) and Cody Thomsen quickly worked to the front of the pack. Mees, who has looked especially impressive in his new role with the Scheuring Speed Sports/AMSOIL raced away on his own, while Arctic Cat teammates Thomsen and Pallin, showed no quarter with each other in their battle for third.

Just past the halfway point, Ellis reeled in Mees and made a daring, but clean jump pass at the top of the hill to grab the lead. As the laps closed, Mees began to show the fatigue of three straight days of racing, including a last chance qualifier into the main. Thomsen was able to make a nearly identical pass on Mees at the top of the hill, relinquishing him to third while Pallin had issues of his own, bobbling on the downhill.

Ellis secured the win for his Boss Racing team, while Thomsen and Mees collected their second podiums in as many days. Bauerly Racing’s Swedish import John Stenberg (Ski-Doo) raced to an impressive fourth, while Bauer salvaged an otherwise bumpy day with a fifth from the back row.

AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series Standings: