THIRTY-TWO WIN WEEKEND FOR TEAM ARCTIC
On Top in Eastern/Canadian Snocross and Western Hillclimbs
It’s the middle of the race season, and Team Arctic snocross and hillclimb racers delivered a 32-win weekend that makes the competition wish winter was over. Leading the victory lap parade in snocross were Tucker Hibbert and Cody Thomsen, each winning a class at the ISOC Eastern National in Farmington, NY.
Hibbert’s win in Pro Open marked his 62nd career Pro class win, and overshadowed the troubles that derailed his efforts in Pro Stock, in which he finished fifth. Pro teammates Garth Kaufman, Logan Christian and Dan Ebert found additional speed in Farmington, with Kaufman taking a second in Pro Stock, while Christian and Ebert each notched a fourth place.
Factory Team Arctic standout Cody Thomsen continued his season-long onslaught of the Semi Pro class, winning one final, taking a second in the other and leaving New York with a commanding points lead.
While Team Arctic snocrossers were winning in Farmington, the hillclimb team set the high mark with 13 wins at the RMSHA season-opener in Bear Lake, Idaho.
It was a familiar family of names who once again proved the superiority of the M Series, as Chance Buckallew, Amy Zollinger, Kyle Tapio and Bryant Ropelato each won multiple events, including Kyle and Bryant’s King titles. They were joined in the winner’s circle by Nels Tapio, Todd Tupper, Taylor Siemers and Casey Morley, giving Arctic Cat the top spot in more than half of the class finals.
At the Soo International 500 enduro in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Team Arctic’s Isaac Wolfgang was oh-so-close to notching his first victory, finishing in the runner-up position just five seconds out of first.
“This was one of those weekends where Team Arctic racers won all-over the North American map in all forms of competition,” said Mike Kloety, Race Manager. “While we didn’t win every time we hit the track, notching 32 wins tells the story of our racers, crews and snowmobiles, while highlighting the strength of our program.”
Team Arctic Race Results from ISOC National Farmington, NY
Pro Open
1. Tucker Hibbert
4. Logan Christian
Pro Stock
2. Garth Kaufman
4. Dan Ebert
Semi Pro Stock #1
2. Cody Thomsen
Semi Pro Stock #2
1. Cody Thomsen
Sport Stock #1
3. Hunter Nelson
Team Arctic Race Results from RMSHA Hillclimb in Bear Lake, ID
600 Stock
2. Tony Zollinger
600 Imp.
1. Chance Buckallew
2. Rob Kincaid
3. Ben Adams
600 Mod
1. Nels Tapio
2. Sid Archibald
700 Imp.
1. Chance Buckallew
700 Mod.
2. Russ Tapio
3. Nels Tapio
800 Stock
3. David McClure
800 Imp.
2. David McClure
800 Mod
3. Kyle Tapio
1000 Stock
1. Kyle Tapio
Open Mod
1. Kyle Tapio
2. Russ Tapio
3. Nels Tapio
Pro Masters Stock
1. Todd Tupper
Pro Masters Imp.
2. Todd Tupper
Women Stock
1. Amy Zollinger
2. Rachel Humphrey
3. Charise Cook
Women Imp.
2. Amy Zollinger
3. Rachel Humphrey
Women Mod
1. Amy Zollinger
2. Rachel Humphrey
Semi Pro Stock
3. Bryant Ropelato
Semi Pro Imp.
3. Bo Morss
Semi Pro Mod
1. Bryant Ropelato
Junior
1. Taylor Siemers
2. Greg Lindbloom
New Member Stock
2. Trace Tupper
New Member Improved
1. Casey Morley
2. CJ Gorringe
Stock King – Kyle Tapio
Semi Pro King – Bryant Ropelato
Team Arctic Race Results from ECS Regional Farmington, NY
Pro Plus-30
1. Jason Boron
Semi Pro Stock #1
3. Chris Ackerman
Plus 25/35
2. Josh Gessinger
Jr. 16-17
1. Jayme Lynch
Jr. 14-15
3. Jayme Lynch
Transition 8-12
3. Brandon O’Neil
Undoubtedly impressive indeed, but the only race that mattered last weekend in the annals of snowmobile racing history was the Soo I-500. And that race was perhaps appropriately won by USCC elder statesman Corey Davidson, who in his post-race interview with Soo Radio nearly choked up when musing on Pat Mach’s untimely departure.
Beyond that, however, I must concede that Chad Colby’s spine-tingling call of the Soo’s frantic final few laps between Davidson and Arctic Cat’s Isaac Wolfgang was the perfect antidote to a heavy weekend of emotional malady. Great race, but a better call. Thanks, Chad.