First win for Morin

From WPSA Racing

GAYLORD, MI — French Canadian rider Mathieu Morin earned a debut win in the Pro Stock final, while D.J. Eckstrom won the Pro Open event during the weather-delayed AMSOIL Duluth National, Saturday at the Otsego Club and Resort. Morin (Ski-Doo), who is substituting for the injured C.W. Sirjane, made his Pro class debut this weekend, while Eckstrom led a Polaris sweep of the podium in the AMSOIL-sponsored machine.

Fog stopped the Semi-Pro and Pro finals in Duluth on Nov. 27, so the Tour completed the Pro Stock and Pro Open finals, as well as the Semi-Pro Stock and Open final. The Duluth events were run as part of the Michigan Snocross here.

Kurtis Crapo (Arctic Cat) was second in the Pro Stock final, ahead of Eckstrom, who competed in both events. Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) was the Pro Open runner-up, followed by defending Pro Stock titleholder T.J. Gulla (TEAM Industries/Polaris).

Zach Pattyn (Ski-Doo) won the Semi-Pro Stock final, while Jeff Snow (Olah Racing/Arctic Cat) grabbed Semi-Pro Open honours.

Morin led every lap of the Pro Stock event. Morin, who qualified for Winter X Games 10 by winning an invitational race two weeks ago at Duluth, wasn’t certain of his racing future. Then, on Sunday at Duluth, he was tapped to fill in for Sirjane, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury.

“In Duluth, at the time, it was just my dad and I; we had no sponsorship,” said Morin. “We thought we’d only run a few Semi-Pro events here and there. To be given the opportunity to compete in Pro Stock this year is quite an honour. I didn’t think I would win so quickly. It felt great to win the race, and now I know I can race with these guys. So tomorrow should be fun.”

Eckstrom, who lives in Duluth, was excited to bring the trophy home. Eckstrom took the lead of the Pro Open final in the first corner and never looked back.