Morgan sweeps Valcourt

From WPSA

VALCOURT, QC — Blair Morgan said last week at Park X of Quadna he was out to be the spoiler this weekend. A spoiler he was as the man they call “Superman” won both ends of the professional classes during Sunday’s WPSA PowerSports Snowmobile Tour Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt Snocross race.

Morgan (Blair Morgan Racing Team/Ski-Doo) returned to Valcourt after breaking his leg here last year; an injury that took him out for the season at a time when he was comfortably in the lead in both the Pro Open and Pro Stock points. Morgan’s return was made with an exclamation point as he was simply dominant here this weekend, as he ran away with both the Pro Stock and Pro Open finals.

Morgan took the lead with a holeshot at the beginning of the Pro Open final and wasn’t seriously challenged from there. Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports-Dupont/Polaris) finished second, ahead of local favourite Dave Allard (Blair Morgan Racing Team/Ski-Doo).

“This feels great to come back here after last year and sweep the event,” said Morgan, who only recently recovered from another injury: a badly broken thumb suffered in pre-season testing. “This is especially sweet for Ski-Doo. This is their race, in their backyard, and we just re-signed with them, so it’s nice to give them this victory. The injury hasn’t been bothering me at all and it feels great to be back out here."

Martin’s second-place finish marked his fourth Pro Open podium finish, a streak that includes two wins. He now holds a 26-point lead in the Pro Open standings.

Allard, who hails from St. Prime, QC, was happy to earn his second-straight Pro Open podium.

Robbie Malinoski (Olah Racing/Arctic Cat) took the holeshot in the Pro Stock final, but Morgan shadowed him for six laps waiting to pounce. Malinoksi bobbled slightly going into the final turn and Morgan capitalized, taking the lead. Malinoski challenged Morgan on the next lap, running side by side heading to the finish line, but Morgan held him off and cruised to the victory, his first in Pro Stock competition this season.

“We’ve been kind of struggling with the stock sled,” said Morgan. “It feels good to win in the stock class. I was just looking for anywhere I could pass Robbie. I bumped him a few times and showed him a ski here and there, waiting for him to slip up.”

Malinoski held on for second, earning his first Pro Stock podium this year and in the process, taking the Pro Stock points lead from Martin, who dropped to third in the standings.

Dennis Eckstrom (AMSOIL/Polaris) was third, turning around a string of negative fortune that has plagued his AMSOIL/Red Bull team for the last three events.

Mathieu Morin (Warnert Racing-Formula XPS/Ski-Doo) won the Semi-Pro Open race ahead of Brett Bender (TEAM Industries/Polaris) and Phil Johnson (Kowalski Racing/Ski-Doo).