Morin, Muller lock up 2011 titles with wins at Pico Mountain for East Coast Snocross series,
Presented by Woody’s Traction and AMSOIL
KILLINGTON, Vermont (April 2, 2011) — Veteran snowmobile racers Mathieu Morin and Jacob Muller earned final round wins in their respective divisions and locked up the 2011 class titles Saturday, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) completed Day 1 of its season finale at the beautiful Pico Mountain ski resort.
Morin, of Val-D’Or, QC, took the lead from top qualifier Danny Poirier before the first full lap was completed, then raced away to a convincing victory in the 12-lap Pro Stock final. Red-hot rookie Corin Todd (JAC Racing/Arctic Cat) backed up a pair of third place finishes the previous week with a solid runner-up effort. Minnesota native Matt Piche (Hulten Speed Sports/No. 51) converted the momentum built from his win last week into a fine third-place finish.
For Morin (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo), the win capped a dream-like season with few mishaps and multiple trophies. At each stop on the inaugural ECS schedule, he became the man to beat. This title was earned in a truly dominant fashion.
“The track was much better this afternoon for the final,” Morin said. “It was pretty rough this morning during qualifying. Once I got out front, I was able to pick some good lines and make some time despite the soft snow. My sled ran great again today, I’m excited to win this championship and very happy for this entire Ingles Performance/Ski-doo team.”
Muller (Team Southside/No. 727), of Richmond, MN, powered his way past early leader and point rival Chris Ackerman to take command of the Semi-Pro Stock Saturday final. Muller stretched out a big lead on his way to victory, while Ackerman settled for second and veteran Cody Flach came home third. Point contender Lucas Brunelle finished fourth in another solid effort from the Ingles squad.
A snow squall with gusty winds blew over Pico Mountain just as the Pro riders reached the halfway mark of their grueling final. While a total lap count of one dozen may not seem much by some standards, one look at the huge, challenging yet widely-loved track at Pico tells the story.
While the big snowflakes and winds made visibility a challenge, the riders were ready. It seems as if winter isn’t quite finished in Vermont’s southern Green Mountains. And while the nearby city of Rutland is completely void of snow, conditions at Pico were near mid-winter. The large track was built entirely with natural snow, and there was plenty of it.
Other final round winners Saturday afternoon at Pico include Tucker Olsen (Jr. 8-10 Stock 300); Steffanie Lemieux-Bell (Pro Women Saturday); and Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan).
With bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-40s expected for Sunday, the stage is set for a spectacular conclusion to the 2011 snocross season. Sunday’s action will include qualifying races and final rounds for Semi-Pro Stock Day 2, the ear-pleasing, ground-pounding machines of Pro Open, another thrilling show from the gravity-defying Rave-X Freestyle squad, as well as some great competition in the Sport, Women and Junior divisions.
Spectator gates open at 10 a.m., with early qualifying rounds already in progress. Admission is $20 for adults, children age 7 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult. To learn more about all Pico has to offer, visit them online at www.picomountain.com.
For more information, go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.