Tucker Hibbert Sweeps Pro Classes, Thomsen Leads Semi Pro Points
Three races into the 2011 ISOC National Snocross Series, a defined pattern has emerged.
Team Arctic’s Tucker Hibbert will stamp his authority in the Pro class by handily winning both Stock and Open categories aboard his Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600, while Factory Team Arctic’s Cody Thomsen establishes himself atop the Semi Pro class.
Race three of the ISOC series was held at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, where a tight track produced heavy bumping and banging among the podium-hungry racers.
Like the previous two national events, Hibbert shrugged off mid-pack starts, dramatically working his Monster Arctic Cat into the lead and then cruising to comfortable wins. Hibbert now leads the points chase in both classes by comfortable margins.
Team Arctic pros Garth Kaufman, Dan Ebert, Ryan Simons, Logan Christian, Zach Pattyn and Wes Selby also mixed it up in the top-10 of each class.
The Utah round offered an abbreviated program of racing compared to other Nationals, with just one Semi Pro and Sport class each and two Junior events.
Cody Thomsen and his Factory Team Arctic teammate Kyle Pallin looked ready to dominate the Semi Pro Stock final until Pallin turned into a landing ramp for an overly-aggressive competitor, knocking him out of the top-3. He recovered to finish sixth, while Thomsen took a well-deserved second place to extend his championship points lead.
While Hibbert, Thomsen and company were dominating the West, a cadre of Team Arctic snocrossers made their mark at the SCM/Eastcoast race in Plattsburg, NY.
Led by Jason Boron who took third in Pro Stock and first in 30-Plus, and Chris Ackerman’s Semi Pro Stock win, the team more than proved their added Eastern presence.
“We’re competitive in all the eastcoast classes we enter, getting our share of podiums and wins,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager. “We have more Arctic Cat racers running up front than in the past, and the results will continue to improve because of it. In ISOC, Tucker once again showed his talent and drive to sweep the Pro classes in Utah. Plus our National racers are mostly healthy and ready to attack the middle portion of the season. We’re in good shape to keep winning.”
The next event for Team Arctic’s snocross racers in the ESPN Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., Jan. 27-30.
