It was a weekend of highs and lows for Monster Energy/Arctic Cat’s Tucker Hibbert at the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series stop in Farmington, New York.
Hibbert made uncharacteristic mistakes Friday night to finish fifth in the Pro Super Stock final but an overflow crowd watched him redeem himself Saturday night with a nail biting performance in the Pro Open final.
The Eastern National at Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack featured a technical track with deep holes and ice edges. After qualifying seventh for the Pro Super Stock final Friday night, Hibbert came out of the first corner nearly last – 12th out of 15 riders.
By lap three, he had already charged his way to fifth and four laps later moved into fourth with the leaders in sight. The next lap, he caught an ice edge, lost grip of the handlebars and was thrown from his sled.
By the time he got running again, he was in 14th place. He put on a last chance charge, moving through traffic quickly to finish the 22-lap race in fifth and clocking the fastest lap time of the night.
With light snow falling and an electric crowd packed into the venue Saturday night, Hibbert entered the Pro Open final determined to win. He got a second place start behind no. 837 Ross Martin and stalked him for the first eight laps.
He utilized the whole track, searching for lines and made the pass for the lead on lap nine. He started to pull a gap on Martin but with only four laps to go, he over jumped a triple, lost control and slid over a berm.
He quickly regrouped and pulled back onto the track right in front of Martin. By the end 22-lap final, he opened nearly a six second lead on Martin for his 62nd career national win.
Next up for Hibbert is the only indoor event of the season at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Saturday night. After Pontiac, the tour will enjoy a two-week break before it charges into the final three races of the season.
