Tucker Hibbert wrapped up his snocross season with a full sweep of the three days of Pro Open racing at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, while Pro Lite rookie Ryan Springer wrapped up the Pro Lite title. Below are the three race stories from the ISOC Amsoil Championship Series race circuit.
SUNDAY
Carlson Motorsports/Polaris’ Ryan Springer, in only his second year racing pro snocross, wrapped up the Pro Lite title here today at Lake Geneva’s Grand Geneva Resorts & Spa – the annual running of the Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale, presented by Dayco Grand Finale. But it was Elias Ishoel (Warnert Racing/Ski-Doo) who won Sunday’s Pro Lite main event, completing the weekend sweep in front of a massive live crowd and legions of motorsports fans watching “Live” on CBS Sports.
And in the premier Pro Open class it was again Tucker Hibbert (Monster/Ram/Arctic Cat) on top of the podium once again, completing his 1st/1st/1st weekend sweep of Lake Geneva and further solidifying his title as the best professional snowmobile racer on the planet.
Pro Open
Foreshadowing what looked to be a battle between the heir apparent to the Pro Open throne, Hentges Racing/Polaris’ Kody Kamm, and the reigning king of snocross, Tucker Hibbert, wouldn’t quite transpire like it did the previous two nights at Grand Geneva as Hibbert grabbed the Stud Boy Holeshot and, for all intents and purposes, was gone after lap one.
Kamm would deal Hibbert his only defeat of the weekend, albeit a minor one in the opening race of heat one. Hibbert got caught up and forced out of the fast line in the holeshot, with Kamm taking the lead and holding off a late-race Hibbert charge for the heat race win. But that would be Hibbert’s only blemish on a near perfect weekend of racing for the overall Pro Open champ.
“It feels amazing,” said Hibbert. “To solid weekend and come out with three wins is exactly what we wanted. It’s been a long season and we’ve had a lot of success, but to finish it off this way is just icing on the cake for the whole team.”
Hibbert pulled the Stud Boy Holeshot in the Pro Open main, rocketing to the lead up Grand Geneva’s Mountain Top ski hill – with veteran rival Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) close behind in 2nd place, followed by Warnert Racing/Ski-Doo’s John Stenberg.
As the front runners separated from the rest of the pack, Kamm was back in 5th place behind Mystic/Loctite/Polaris’ Kyle Pallin. Hibbert would reel off a couple fast laps, putting seven seconds between himself and 2nd place Martin, while Kamm put on a charge of his own and moved into 3rd place by out-jumping Stenberg on the middle downhill section.
As Hibbert increased his lead, Martin rode solid in 2nd and was not going to be caught by Kamm (3rd). Stenberg would complete an excellent race in 4th, with Pallin holding strong in 5th.
Lake Geneva Sunday Pro Open Results
1 – Tucker Hibbert, Pelican Rapids, MN, Arctic Cat
2 – Ross Martin, Burlington, WI, Polaris
3 – Kody Kamm, Kenosha, WI, Polaris
4 – John Stenberg, Sweden, Ski-Doo
5 – Kyle Pallin, Ironwood, MI, Polaris
6 – Logan Christian, Fertile, MN, Arctic Cat
7 – Justin Broberg, Mukwonago, WI, Polaris
8 – David Joanis, Canada, Arctic Cat
9 – Cody Thomsen, Nisswa, MN, Arctic Cat
10 – Corin Todd, Otego, NY, Polaris
Overall Pro Open Points (17 of 17 rounds)
1 – Tucker Hibbert, 727*
2 – Tim Tremblay, 578
3 – Kyle Pallin, 560
4 – Ross Martin, 533
5 – Logan Christian, 530
*Clinches the 2014-’15 Pro Open title
Pro Lite
While sixteen-year-old Norwegian Elias Ishoel dominated the slopes of Lake Geneva, it was Ryan Springer that wrapped up the season-long Pro Lite championship, laying claim to AMSOIL Championship Snocross’ prestigious support class crown in only his second year of pro snocross racing.
“I never thought I’d get this far so soon,” said an elated Springer, who wrapped up the title during his heat races and raced the Pro Open class today at Lake Geneva, crashing out in the LCQ.
Quite literally unstoppable at Lake Geneva, Ishoel wowed the CBS Sports fans with a brazen look back pass – for the Pro Lite main event lead – on Andrew Carlson (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris). The lap four (of six) pass came on the main uphill section when Ishoel out-jumped Carlson into the corner, passed him, then held on as Carlson ran him (Ishoel) up high on the berm. Ishoel would send up a wall of roost, forcing Carlson to duck below his visor as he towed Carlson to the pinnacle of Mountain Top ski hill.
Out front for good, Ishoel put the hammer down and distanced himself from the rest of the field. Travis Muller (Cottew Racing/Polaris), who also challenged Carlson for the race lead early, would move up past Carlson (3rd) for 2nd place late in the contest. James Johnstad (Judnick Racing/Polaris) would put in another solid effort on the weekend, placing 4th, with Canada’s Maxime Taillefer (AMSOIL/Scheuring/Ski-Doo) placing 5th.
Overall, Ishoel’s 1st/1st effort at Lake Geneva propelled him all the way up to 2nd place in the Pro Lite standings behind Springer (tied with Carlson at 542 points, 2nd based on more wins). And with his 2nd place finish Muller moved up to 4th place in the standings (from 5th), one spot ahead of Trevor Leighton (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris).
Lake Geneva Sunday Pro Lite Results
1 – Elias Ishoel, Norway, Ski-Doo
2 – Travis Muller, Windom, MN, Polaris
3 – Andrew Carlson, Big Lake, MN, Polaris
4 – James Johnstad, Beltrami, MN, Polaris
5 – Maxime Taillefer, Canada, Ski-Doo
6 – Trevor Leighton, Eagle, ID, Polaris
7 – Korbyn Anderson, Allenton, MI, Ski-Doo
8 – Tyler Adams, Elk River, MN, Arctic Cat
9 – Shane Sewell, Westville, IN, Ski-Doo
10 – Kevin Wallenstein, Cadillac, MI, Ski-Doo
Overall Pro Lite Points (16 of 16 rounds)
1 – Ryan Springer, 558
2 – Elias Ishoel, 542
3 – Andrew Carlson, 542
4 – Travis Muller, 538
5 – Trevor Leighton, 537
SATURDAY:
’15 Pro Open champ Hibbert stays on the gas & wins Saturday’s AMSOIL Championship Snocross Lake Geneva main event
Hibbert wins a wild Pro Open class main event on the season’s toughest track; 16-year-old Elias Ishoel dominates the Pro Lite main
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (March 14, 2015) – With the AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, Pro Open title in hand, Tucker Hibbert (Monster/Ram/Arctic Cat) kept it on the main jet Saturday night at the Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale, presented by Dayco Grand Finale at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, winning by 14 seconds to take his sixth victory of the weekend thus far (heats & mains).
And in the Pro Lite class Norway’s Elias Ishoel flat out hammered the super technical Lake Geneva track, putting on a spectacular show in passing the 2nd and 1st place racers in a matter of seconds for the lead and eventual win.
Pro Open
Not having had the best starts all season long, Hibbert finally managed to figure out how to launch his Arctic Cat off the line at Lake Geneva. And in tonight’s main he pulled Hentges Racing/Polaris teammates Kody Kamm and Justin Broberg up Mountain Top ski hill in spectacular fashion with the Stud Boy Holeshot, then led 2nd place Kamm and 3rd place Tim Tremblay (AMSOIL/Scheuring/Ski-Doo) down the hill before starting to check out early – much like he did in Friday night’s win as well.
“I got a great start, ripped out of the hole and that was key for sure tonight,” said Hibbert, who wrapped up his 9th Pro Open title on Friday. “The track was gnarly. I was scared on the site lap.”
Wanting to steer clear of the fire hose roost coming off the back of everyone’s sleds (the result of warm temps and highly wet/soft snow conditions), Hibbert clocked the night’s fastest lap – a 1:14.6 – on lap two, which was an incredible three whole seconds faster than the second-fastest lap time.
With Kamm back from a midseason injury and running real well (2nd on Friday night), the battle for 3rd between Tremblay and Broberg began to heat up. Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) would soon join the fray as well and both he and Broberg got past Tremblay in the downhill section coming towards the ski lodge, which sent the grandstands into a frenzy with three hometown Wisconsinites (Kamm, Broberg & Martin) now vying for podium spots.
On lap six of the nine-lap contest Martin launched out past Broberg for 3rd on top of the ski hill, only to land crossed up in a deep pocket and get pitched off his sled – at the absolute worst spot on the track. As Martin gathered himself and grabbed his tether, his Polaris began a slow descent – by itself – down the fast of Mountain Top’s steepest ski run, forcing Martin to sprint a couple hundred feet down the hill to fetch his sled.
Broberg would quickly re-pass Martin for the third and final podium spot, with Adam Renheim (Boss Racing/Ski-Doo) and Logan Christian (Christian Brothers Racing/Arctic Cat) also getting by to round out the top five in 4th and 5th, respectively.
Lake Geneva Saturday Pro Open Results
1 – Tucker Hibbert, Pelican Rapids, MN, Arctic Cat
2 – Kody Kamm, Kenosha, WI, Polaris
3 – Justin Broberg, Mukwonago, WI, Polaris
4 – Adam Renheim, Sweden, Ski-Doo
5 – Logan Christian, Fertile, MN, Arctic Cat
6 – Ross Martin, Burlington, WI, Polaris
7 – David Joanis, Canada, Arctic Cat
8 – Tim Tremblay, Canada, Ski-Doo
9 – Corin Todd, Otego, NY, Polaris
10 – Kyle Pallin, Ironwood, MI, Polaris
Overall Pro Open Points (16 of 17 rounds)
1 – Tucker Hibbert, 638*
2 – Tim Tremblay, 556
3 – Kyle Pallin, 529
4 – Logan Christian, 502
5 – Ross Martin, 496
*Clinches the 2014-’15 Pro Open title
Pro Lite
Sixteen-year-old Norwegian Elias Ishoel put on one of the more impressive Pro Lite main event performances of the year after sweeping his qualifiers (1st/1st) and coming from back in the pack to dominate the main event for his fourth victory of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season.
In tune with the tricky elevation changes on the Lake Geneva track almost immediately, Ishoel – in his first race at Lake Geneva – had all the fast lines dialed all day, en-route to the win. “It feels much more like home, more hills and the track is longer,” said Ishoel. “So it’s cool.”
Pulling a convincing Stud Boy Holeshot was Pro Lite point leader Ryan Springer (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris), closely towing James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) and teammate Andrew Carlson up the Mountain Top ski area’s intermediate hill.
On lap two Ishoel made himself known, moving up to 4th place and onto the roost flap of Carlson. Then, with an absolute banzai move, Ishoel blitzed the downhill section and held the throttle on into the base bowl turn, going low on Carlson and forcing the 3rd place rider high before stealing 3rd.
Two laps later into the seven-lap contest Ishoel was up onto 2nd place Johnstad. The two would battle for about a lap before Ishoel aired it out past Johnstad and into 2nd place. And before you could say “race leader Ryan Springer,” Ishoel was past him as well on the ensuing uphill section.
For Springer, succeeding the lead without much of a fight was all part of the game plan as the point leader settled back into 2nd, ahead of Johnstad and, more importantly, out front of 2nd place overall (in Pro Lite points) Trevor Leighton (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris).
“I just went out and rode comfortable. I wasn’t going to push anything, get out of control and throw away the points lead. Just tried to ride smart and that’s what I did,” said Springer, who is now two points away from clinching the Pro Lite title in just his second year of pro snocross racing.
Back on the track there wasn’t going to be anyone catching Ishoel. During his passfest on lap four, Ishoel clocked a blistering 1:18.9 – the fastest lap of the evening in Pro Lites. The rest of the field would stay put in their positons with Springer in 2nd, Johnstad in 3rd, Carlson in 4th and Leighton in 5th.
Lake Geneva Saturday Pro Lite Results
1 – Elias Ishoel, Norway, Ski-Doo
2 – Ryan Springer, St. Francis, MN, Polaris
3 – James Johnstad, Beltrami, MN, Polaris
4 – Andrew Carlson, Big Lake, MN, Polaris
5 – Trevor Leighton, Eagle, ID, Polaris
6 – Maxime Taillefer, Canada, Ski-Doo
7 – Travis Muller, Windom, MN, Polaris
8 – Travis Kern, Palisade, MN, Arctic Cat
9 – Jake Angove, Oconomowoc, WI, Polaris
10 – Nick Pattyn, Ravenna, MI, Arctic Cat
Overall Pro Lite Points (15 of 16 rounds)
1 – Ryan Springer, 546
2 – Trevor Leighton, 504
3 – Andrew Carlson, 503
4 – Elias Ishoel, 497
5 – Travis Muller, 496
FRIDAY
Tucker Hibbert clinches the 2014-‘15 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Pro Open title with Friday win @ Lake Geneva!
Pro snocross racing’s all-time winningest racer goes 1st/1st in his heat races and dominates the main event to win his ninth Pro Open title
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (March 13, 2015) – With a convincing victory tonight in the Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale, presented by Dayco Grand Finale at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, pro snocross racing’s all-time winningest racer, Tucker Hibbert (Monster/Ram/Arctic Cat), has clinched the 2014-’15 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, premier Pro Open class championship.
I’m so happy right now … this is just awesome,” said Hibbert in clinching his 9th Pro Open class title. “I know this is Ross (Martin) and Kody (Kamm) Land, but I appreciate the cheers.”
Leading by 89 points over 2nd place Tim Tremblay (AMSOIL/Scheuring/Ski-Doo) heading into Friday’s action at Lake Geneva, Hibbert locked down 1st/1st place finishes in his two qualifiers to add to his lead. With a mathematical chance to still catch Hibbert (albeit slim), Tremblay would crash in the main event and was unable to finish, allowing Hibbert to wrap the inevitable title up early.
Pro Open
Out of the start gate like a rocket was Kenosha’s (Wis.) Kody Kamm (Hentges Racing/Polaris), pulling one of the bigger holeshots of the year down the long straight leading up the Mountain Top ski area. Kamm, who missed a number of races with lower body injury, would lead the first couple laps – much to the enjoyment of the pro-Kamm crowd on hand.
“I had a sweet holeshot and led for a couple laps,” said Kamm. “This was just a great race to come back to.”
Just before the start of lap three Hibbert made one of his bolder passes of the season, stretching out over a giant double heading into the final turn, diving low and catching Kamm by surprise before passing him for the lead heading into the AMSOIL Finish Line Jump.
“Kody left the door open and Tucker took advantage of it,” said ISOC announcer Levi LaVallee.
With Hibbert quickly up by four seconds on Kamm, the battle for the final podium spot began to transpire. Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) from nearby Burlington, Wis., always runs well on the Lake Geneva track – and Friday’s contest would be no different. Martin started in 6th position and quickly moved up to 4th past Kyle Pallin (Mystic/Loctite/Polaris).
Running in 3rd place through the first five (of nine) laps was Arctic Cat pilot Cody Thomsen. With one of his better starts of the season, Thomsen would be searching for his first podium of the year. But Martin had different plans and on lap six shot past Thomsen and took charge of the third and final podium spot.
Thomsen would hold on for 4th place with another Wisconsinite, Mukwonago’s Justin Broberg (Hentges Racing/Polaris), rounding out the top five.
Lake Geneva Friday Pro Open Results
1 – Tim Tremblay, Ste Jeanne D’Arc, Quebec, Ski-Doo
2 – Kody Kamm, Kenosha, WI, Polaris
3 – Ross Martin, Burlington, WI, Polaris
4 – Cody Thomsen, Nisswa, MN, Arctic Cat
5 – Justin Broberg, Mukwonago, WI, Polaris
6 – Kyle Pallin, Ironwood, MI, Polaris
7 – John Stenberg, Sweden, Ski-Doo
8 – Corin Todd, Otego, NY, Polaris
9 – Adam Renheim, Sweden, Ski-Doo
10 – David Joanis, Canada, Arctic Cat
Overall Pro Open Points (15 of 17 rounds)
1 – Tucker Hibbert, 638*
2 – Tim Tremblay, 524
3 – Kyle Pallin, 506
4 – Logan Christian, 469
5 – Ross Martin, 464
*Clinches the 2014-’15 Pro Open title
Pro Lite
Returning to action on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Geneva, the Pro Lite class couldn’t get more interesting as no less than 78 points separates the top six racers. Ryan Springer (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris) pulled away from the rest of the field in the last several races, winning six of his past seven starts and now holds a stable – but not unattainable – 34-point lead over Trevor Leighton (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris), 504-470.
And just a few points back of Springer and Leighton are Springer’s teammate, Andrew Carlson (466 points), and Travis Muller (Cottew Motorsports/Polaris) with 465 points. Add to that Polaris mix the lone Ski-Doo sled of Norway’s Elias Ishoel (Warnert Racing) in 5th place (452 points) and James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) at 426 points and you’ve got the makings for a heck of a final run at the Pro Lite title and top five overall.
Overall Pro Lite Points (14 of 16 rounds)
1 – Ryan Springer, 504
2 – Trevor Leighton, 470
3 – Andrew Carlson, 466
4 – Travis Muller, 465
5 – Elias Ishoel, 452
