• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Hibbert seeks seventh national Snocross title

Photo

Jeff Hanson

Tucker Hibbert will fly high again this weekend when he competes in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross series.

LAKE GENEVA — Tucker Hibbert left here last year en route to a hospital bed.

Today, the decorated snowmobile racer returns with his sights set on a seventh national championship.

The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa will again play host to the season-ending final two rounds of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross series tonight and Saturday night as well as the Ram World Championships on Sunday.

Hibbert has won 10 of 14 ISOC Pro Open finals this season and could clinch the title tonight.

"It's an exciting weekend, for sure," Hibbert said. "Lake Geneva is always one of the highlights of the season for most of the racers, and for sure for me. It's the last race of the year, so it's the grand finale, and the track's always awesome."

But the track—which is one of few on the circuit that includes the incline of a ski hill—hasn't always necessarily been nice to the seven-time X Games snocross gold medalist.

A crash at Lake Geneva last year forced Hibbert to the hospital, where it was revealed he had severely lacerated his kidney. He wound up spending three nights at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.

"I've been through lots of injuries in my career, and crashes, and I've learned that you just have to focus on not thinking about it and not letting it bother you," Hibbert said. "It was definitely not a fun weekend for me. But it's just something that happens; it's part of racing."

Hibbert was forced to remove himself from all physical activities for three months, but said he never considered giving up the sport.

"I've been rather fortunate to come back from injuries really strong," the 28-year-old from Pelican Rapids, Minn., said. "This is definitely what I was born to do. Every injury makes you think a little bit … but it doesn't take long for that to go away and you're ready to get out there and race again."

Hibbert carries a 77-point lead in the Pro Open division into tonight's action, which will take place from 7 to 10:30 p.m.