The WPSA PowerSports Snowmobile Tour officially kicks off its 2006-2007 season this weekend with the AMSOIL Duluth National at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minn.

_{source: PowerSports Public Relations}

The event runs from Friday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 26 with high-flying Snocross racing on all three days. Friday will feature fireworks, as well as Pro qualifying and Amateur racing. Saturday's schedule includes both the Pro Open and Pro Stock finals. The Winter X Games 11 event will be featured Sunday.

Race coverage will be telecast on SPEED on Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. EST and will re-air on Dec. 14, also at 2 p.m. This year's television package features a total of 20 of coverage of the PowerSports Snowmobile Tour.

Leading the charge into Duluth is defending Pro Stock and Pro Open Riders' Champion Robbie Malinoski. Malinoski joined the Boss Racing squad in the off-season and will ride a four-stroke Yamaha during the 2006-2007 campaign in both Pro classes.

Meanwhile, Mathieu Morin returns to the Tour this season with a year of experience under his belt. Morin, who rode his rookie campaign last year in the Pro Stock class, won in his very first Pro start, here at Duluth. Morin is competing in both the Pro Stock and Pro Open classes this year.

Ever-present 11-time WPSA Champion Blair Morgan returns this season, healthy, and ready for No. 12. Morgan, who started last season with a severely broken thumb, essentially threw out the first two races, but performed well at the midpoint of the season, winning four races and his fifth Winter X Games Gold Medal.

Though he's spent the last three years running AMA SuperCross races, Tucker Hibbert is back and ready for Snocross. Hibbert has three victories at Duluth in both Pro Open (2000 and 2001) and Pro Stock (2002).

Duluth resident DJ Eckstrom will attempt to follow up on his win here in Pro Open last year. Eckstrom also earned five additional podiums during the 2005-2006 season.

The Crapos, Shaun and Kurtis, will also return to competition after achieving success last season. Younger brother Shaun will pilot a new sled for Sheuring Speed Sports, while Kurtis will remain in familiar livery on an Arctic Cat.