morgan claims two for doo in valcourt
Amsnow
It's always something. The World Snowmobile Association's (WSA) Snocross Worldwide Championship (SWC) presented by Ford Trucks finally found a venue this year with tons of snow au natural, and brilliant sunny skies for the entire weekend. But all the talk here at the sixth round of the tour, the 21 st Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt, was the cold. Numbing, brutal cold. And even though he has admitted he truly abhors cold, it was Blair Morgan, on home soil, that swept to both Pro wins.
Morning temps of -25 °F in the morning, with highs all of -5 °F. Riders' hands were going numb after only a few laps. But, the show must go on, and so it did. On Friday afternoon a special Dash for Cash was held to give the fans some Friday action, and Morgan's teammate, Carl Kuster (FAST Ent. Ski-Doo), simply out dueled his boss to take a very impressive win. But in the Ford Trucks Pro Stock class, Morgan (Coldwave/Oakley Ski-Doo) went to work. He won both his qualifying heats, and then nailed the Sportech Holeshot Award, but it was Tucker Hibbert (Chevy Trucks/Speedwerx Cat) using an outside line to move into the lead. Kent Ipsen (Olah Racing/Famous Dave's Cat) slotted into third, with an impressive Trevor John (Chevy Trucks/Gore-Tex Cat) quickly to fourth. Tomi Ahmasalo (Formula XPS Ski-Doo) and Levi LaVallee (Team Perf./Red Bull Polaris) started battling up through the pack.
Perhaps John's injured left shoulder began to kick up, but he began fading, while Morgan started his first assault on Hibbert. He closed, but then Hibbert drew away and looked strong, but then Morgan upped the charge again, and this time he fought past in the final corner with two laps to go. Morgan was superb in traffic while Hibbert caught some bad breaks, and Morgan eased away to the win. Ipsen finished a lonely third, while LaVallee moved up to fourth with Ahmasalo fifth.
In the Bud Light Pro Open class, Justin Tate (Amsoil Polaris) was the surprise and impressive top qualifier, with Hibbert second and Morgan only ninth, due to a problematic seventh in his first heat. At the start of the final, Tate hooked up well, as did Morgan, but it was local hot shoe Karl Allard (Arctic Cat) who nailed the Sportech Holeshot Award. Allard held on for one lap, then Morgan moved by, and Allard had an off, and Hibbert, suffering another bad start, got caught up and plummeted to 11th. Shortly thereafter, his brother Dave Allard (Ski-Doo) had a serious off, eventually forcing a red flag to ensure a safe response.
After the restart, Morgan checked out, with Tate a solid second, while Ipsen started moving up and LaVallee, Kuster and Carl Schubitzke (Dodge/Woody's Polaris) started a spectacular duel. LaVallee's charge stalled with a mechanical failure, which helped Hibbert in his own charge toward the front. At the end, Morgan had a second hugely popular win, with Tate a resurgent second, Ipsen third. Kuster got the beast of the battle for fourth, and Hibbert augured up to fifth.
Young guns Aaron Christensen (Dodge Polaris) and Steve Martin (Formula XPS Ski-Doo) claimed the Amsoil Semi-Pro Stock and Fox Shox Semi-Pro Open classes respectively. Matt Judnick (Spy Optics Polaris) was second in Semi-Pro Stock, while Robbie Malinoski (Olah Racing Cat) was third, and added a second in Semi-Pro Open, with Jeff Gruhlke (Vast Innovations Cat) third.
The next round of the SWC is next weekend, February 22-23, at the superb Canterbury Park horse racing facility just south of Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information on the WSA, the SWC and other affiliated series and schedules, please go online at www.wsaracing.com.