SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal - December 2018

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1065020

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 43 of 112

The ATV Master Said Sanchez Fulfilled His Plan To Win At The 51st SCORE Baja 1000 By Dan Sanchez Photo courtesy Said Sanchez There was a time when the ATVs were the dominant Powersports vehicles on four wheels. Once the UTVs came along, the four-wheel quads were left by most teams, but not completely forgotten by racers like Said Sanchez from Tijuana, Mexico. Over the last two seasons, Sanchez has dominated SCORE’s Pro Quad class and at the 51st SCORE Baja 1000, he walked away with another class win and his second class championship. Sanchez’s racing career started in 2013 when entered SCORE races in the Sportsman division. After gaining some experience, he moved into the Pro Quad class the following year. From 2014 through 2016 his riding skills improved until the 2017 season, he was able to win a championship. “I didn’t run in 2015 and I didn’t start running the full SCORE season until 2017 and 2018,” said Sanchez. After only four years in the pro division, Sanchez has only lost one race in the past two SCORE seasons. “I race for passion,” says Sanchez. “Back in 2017, I learned to prepare better physically, logistically, and with the right team. We worked out our entire race program so that everything could run perfectly. We prepare the vehicle ourselves, buying a stock vehicle and building the engine for racing.” Winning seems easy for Sanchez, but at this year’s SCORE Baja 1000, he felt he was under some pressure to pull out another win and a championship. “For me, the most difficult part is always the course,” said Sanchez. “The SCORE Baja 1000 is always difficult. This year, however, we had some mechanical difficulties at the SCORE San Felipe 250, and we finished in second place. So we were at risk of losing another championship. So for the SCORE Baja 1000, it was an all or nothing effort for us to win.” For the local SCORE fans who cheer on their Mexican hero on a quad, they had no doubt that Sanchez could pull off another victory and back-to-back championships. But as any racer knows, Baja can throw a lot at you, and one never really knows if they’re going to win or not. At this year’s race, Sanchez was aided by co-riders Felipe Velez, Javier Robles Jr., Luis Velez, Mike Sloan and Francisco Vera. “Halfway through the race, around the first 500 miles, we found out we were about 70 miles ahead of all the other quads,” said Sanchez. “Then when we found out we won, there are so many emotions. What most people don’t understand is that it’s a struggle just to be there and finish the race, surviving the extreme cold, dealing with hunger, anger; it all comes to an emotional end once you cross the finish line. Then it’s important that we thank God for finishing safely.” Sanchez and the 1a team also started the race with a brand new vehicle. “Our quad was running at 98 percent and it ran extremely well,” Sanchez. “Our original goal was to win back-to-back championships and finish first at the SCORE Baja 1000, before we retire from the class. But now I think we’re going to run in 2019 and we will be there in San Felipe!” SJ

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of SCORE Journal - SCORE Journal - December 2018