SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1374877
THE CLASS CHAMP’S CHAMPION Jim O’Neal Serves As Grand Marshal Of 53rd SCORE BaJa 500 Multi-time SCORE motorcycle class champion and apparel/performance products manufacturer, Jim O’Neal, has been selected to be the Grand Marshal for this year’s BFGoodrich Tires 53rd SCORE Baja 500, Presented by 4 Wheel Parts. At age 74, O’Neal began racing in motocross when he was just 15 years old, and when it comes to the SCORE Baja 500, he has a race-record 21 class wins. He recently competed at the 34th SCORE San Felipe 250, where he has earned 19 Class wins, and is the only person who has raced in all 34 SCORE San Felipe 250 races. In the SCORE Baja 1000, O’Neal has 14 age-group motorcycle class wins including three in 2006 and two in 2016. He also has 38 starts out of 52 years in the SCORE Baja 500 and 39 starts out of 53 years in the SCORE Baja 1000. For these accomplishments, O’Neal was asked to be the Grand Marshal for this year’s SCORE Baja 500. “This is a great honor for me personally,” said O’Neal. “If you are a desert racer, SCORE Baja racing is the only place to be and I will still get to race in Pro Moto 50 for the 39th time in the SCORE Baja 500. I represent all motorcycle racers who have been such a big part of SCORE Baja racing all of these years.” Over the years O’Neal has put together a strong group of co-riders, and has earned a SCORE-record 22 season class point titles in his lengthy career. This year’s SCORE Baja 500 will be his fourth SCORE race as a co-rider for the Giovanni Spinali team in the Pro Moto 50 class for riders over 50 years old. O’Neal will ride on the No. 510x Yamaha YZ450FX for Spinali’s team, who have already won this year’s SCORE San Felipe 250.