hibbert tate gallop to wins at vernon downs
Amsnow
A monstrous, enthusiastic crowd once again greeted the stars of the World Snowmobile Association's (WSA) Snocross Worldwide Championship (SWC) in Vernon, New York, this weekend for the international tour's fifth round. WSA's Rock Maple Racing regional affiliate presented the WSA Yamaha Eastern National, as well as Bud Light and Ford Trucks, where Tucker Hibbert scored another dominant win in Pro Stock. But, for the fourth straight final on Pro Open sleds, Hibbert had to come through the pack, only to again finish second, this time to a flying Justin Tate.
In Featherlite Trailers Pro Stock, Hibbert (Chevy Trucks/Speedwerx Cat) and Dennis Eckstrom (AMSOIL Ski-Doo) tied for top qualifier. Amazingly, after a problematic heat race, Blair Morgan had to try for the final via the Last Chance Qualifier and, with an easy transfer in hand with a comfortable third, he inexplicably started knocking the same course-marker bales off the track in an apparent bid to improve his position, even after course workers dutifully replaced bales to their rightful location on numerous occasions. After giving the benefit of the doubt for the first few incidences, when it continued officials had little option but to disqualify Morgan, ending his chance at making the final. After coming in to the weekend only one point adrift of Hibbert, he would now lose major ground.
At the start, Hibbert and Eckstrom continued their heat holeshot pattern with great starts, chased by ESPN Winter X Games standout T.J. Gulla (Chevy Trucks/Woody's Cat), Aaron Scheele (Dimmerman Bros. Cat), Trevor John (Team Perf. Solutions Polaris) and Noel Kohanski (Dodge Trucks/EPI Polaris). Kohanski started moving up, but then tumbled, while European Champ, Finland's Tomi Ahmasalo (Formula XPS Ski-Doo) slipped off the course, re-entered per the rules, but in eighth, and promptly put on the ride of the day. While Hibbert, Eckstrom and Gulla opened up seemingly comfortable margins, Ahmasalo closed on a battle for fifth, worked through that, and set sail after a podium, brilliantly reading lines and simply flying. With two laps to go he closed on Gulla but couldn't get by, but on the final lap with two corners to go he got a massive run down the back straight and surprised Gulla with a great pass, and went on to claim the final podium spot behind Hibbert and Eckstrom, with Gulla fourth and John fifth.
In Bud Light Pro Open, Hibbert again went undefeated and was top qualifier, with Morgan (VP Fuels/Oakley Ski-Doo) a close second, tied with Kohanski and Eckstrom. With the green, Morgan nailed a superb holeshot, while Hibbert was again buried in the pack. Behind Morgan, Eckstrom and teammate Tate slotted into second and third. Morgan opened up a sizable lead, while Tate surprised Eckstrom with a slick pass for second, and Hibbert started chasing, as did Ahmasalo on another charge.
Suddenly, Morgan's hand shot up in the air, an apparent seized engine the culprit, and Tate was in the lead. His Doo was clearly working very well, and he drew away. Hibbert cracked the top three, and eventually got Eckstrom with one of his classic "Park 'N Ride" maneuvers. He closed a bit on Tate, but Tate responded and simply outraced Hibbert to the checker. Eckstrom held third over a fast closing Ahmasalo, perhaps the revelation of the season, with Carl Kuster (Oakley/FAST, Inc. Ski-Doo) in fifth.
New York's Sean Stringer upset the WSA regulars with a big win in the NTN Bearings Semi-Pro Fan final, while showman extraordinaire Levi LaVallee grabbed the win in the AMSOIL Semi-Pro Stock class, and the blindingly fast Curt Peterson won big in the FOX Shox Semi-Pro Open final.
The next round of the WSA's Snocross Worldwide Championship international tour comes next weekend, February 16-17, 2002 at the legendary Grand Prix de Valcourt in Valcourt, Quebec.