[caption image="/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-02-65/4810.Kamm2.jpg" position="left"]2016-17 Snocross Pro Open Champion Kody Kamm[/caption]For the first time in five seasons, there is a new Pro Open champion on the ISOC National Snocross circuit. Kody Kamm (Polaris, Hentges Racing) needed a nearly perfect final weekend of racing at Grand Geneva Resort to overtake Tim Tremblay (Ski-Doo, Amsoil/Air Force/Ford) and hold off a hard-charging Tucker Hibbert (Arctic Cat, Monster Energy/RAM Trucks) to claim the season points championship on the final day of the season.
Just 44 points separated the top three riders, with Tremblay leading Kamm and Hibbert coming into the weekend. It was the first time in recent memory that this weekend of racing was anything more than victory lap for Hibbert, who had dominated the Pro Open class for the better part of the past four seasons.
Before the weekend began, ISOC officials made a slight rule change that awarded 5 extra bonus points to each heat winner. Kamm took full advantage, going 6-for-6 in his qualifying heats over the weekend.
Kamm’s Pro Open domination began with a sweep, as he won both rounds of qualifying heats and the Round 15 final on Friday night. Hibbert and Tremblay showed well in qualifying, but both faltered in Friday’s final. A get-off by Hibbert and a mechanical issue for Tremblay in the late stages of the race resulted in the two finishing in 10th place and 14th place, respectively. That set the stage for an epic weekend showdown. Rounding out Friday’s podium were Lincoln Lemieux in second place and Elias Ishoel in third.
[caption image="/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-02-65/0020.Tim_2D00_Tremblay.jpg" position="right"]Tim Tremblay finished second in the 2016-17 Pro Open points standings, just 13 points behind Kody Kamm.[/caption]With the door to the points championship open wide, Kamm continued his assault on the leaderboard. Tremblay (pictured right) would not go quietly, however, as he matched Kamm’s two heat wins with two of his own in qualifying. Hibbert took the win in Saturday’s final, followed by Kamm and Tremblay. That result set up a virtual winner-take-all day of racing on Sunday between Kamm and Tremblay.
Kamm capped off his championship with another perfect day, winning both qualifying heats – including a win over Tremblay in Round 2. He then bested Tremblay again to nab a win in Sunday’s final (Hibbert finished third). It was the finishing touch on an incredible weekend-long performance by Kamm, who earned an incredible 174 of 177 available points and finished with 799 points to win the 2016-17 Pro Open Points Championship by 13.
“I had lot of ups and down this year," said Kamm after he received the champion’s red number plate. "I separated my shoulder and thought I was done after that, but I won my first race back. This weekend I felt great, no shoulder pain at all. This is a dream come true.”
For Tremblay, the 2012 points champion, it was his third runner-up finish in season points in as many years.
[caption image="/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-02-65/8176.Ross_2D00_Martin.jpg" position="left"]Ross Martin surprised everyone by announcing his retirement, effectively ending his 17-year career in the middle of the Grand Finale.[/caption]Martin Retires
To everyone’s surprise, Ross Martin (Polaris, Judnick Motorsports) pulled out of Sunday’s racing action just after Pro Open practice concluded, announcing his immediate retirement from snocross racing.
The Burlington, Wis., native (pictured left) had put forth a solid season, finishing 7th in the overall points standings. He finished on the podium four times this season, including a win in Round 7 in Deadwood, S.D.
Martin finished his 17-year career as one of the most decorated riders in snocross history. His accomplishments include 34 Pro wins, 98 Pro podium finishes, five X Games medals, three Pro championships, two AMSOIL Dominator wins and two Eagle River championships.
For full race results, visit www.snocross.com.