Nov. 28, 2016 – Tucker Hibbert took a podium finish at the shortened 25th Annual Duluth National over Thanksgiving weekend. Races were completed Friday and Saturday night in Duluth, Minn. before heavy fog rolled in, blanketing Spirit Mountain ski hill. The poor visibility prompted ISOC National Snocross officials to call off Sunday’s races, including round two of the Pro Open class.
The 2016/2017 ISOC National Snocross tour kicked-off Friday night with head-to-head, non-points, bracket racing. Hibbert notched two wins but came up short of racing in the Dominator final.
Saturday featured the first of 17 Pro Open rounds of racing that will be contested this winter for the Pro Open Championship. Hibbert, the defending champion, went 4-3 in his qualifying rounds to qualify ninth for the 15-rider, 18-lap final. In the final, he had a top-five start off the line and knew he had to move quickly to make his way to the front. Fighting heavy, dirty snow roost, a mistake on lap seven set him back a position. With five to go, he moved into third to secure a podium finish.
Hibbert currently sits fifth in the Pro Open points standings, only six points out of first place. The national tour now takes a two-weekend break before hitting a new venue in Winter Park, Colo. December 16-17. For his full snocross schedule, visit tucker-hibbert.com.
NOTE: Day two of the Duluth National has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 8 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
Tucker Hibbert – #68 Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck
On the shortened race weekend: “It was not a normal race weekend for me and it feels weird to start off the season this way. The first two days were okay but with the third day being cancelled due to fog, it really puts a damper on the kick-off of the season.”
On Saturday’s performance in Pro Open round one: “I’m fairly happy with my results. Having a podium in the main event is good but I want to win races. I’m not completely satisfied but, on the same note, it’s not a terrible place to be. We (the team) have a lot of opportunity to improve – me as a rider and mechanically with the snowmobile. We’re in a good place. Obviously, I’d like to be leading the points but it is what it is. I’m excited about the rest of the season and all the work that’s ahead of us.”
Tucker Hibbert – 2016 Duluth National Results
Pro Open Round 1 – Saturday
Round 1: 4th
Round 2: 3rd
Final: 3rd
Pro Open Round 2 – Sunday (Cancelled, due to fog)
Fast Facts
- Hometown: Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
- 10-Time National Snocross Champion – 120 Pro National Wins
- 14-Time X Games Medalist
- 2012 and 2010 FIM Snowcross World Champion
