SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1502036
RIDING TO THE TOP Arturo Salas Jr. Is Living The Dream Of A Lifetime By Gabriel Garcia Guerra Photos by Get Some Photo It was a dream come true for the 11x team of Arturo Salas Jr. and co-rider Clayton Roberts during the BFGoodrich Tires 55th SCORE Baja 500. After a difficult and technical ride on the course, the two riders of the 11x team finished first to take the SCORE Pro Moto Overall and SCORE Pro Moto Unlimited win. It’s no surprise, however, as Salas Jr. was part of the Championship 1x Juan Carlos Salvatierra team in 2022, and again during the SCORE San Felipe 250 this year. His decision to go out on his own, however, was a gamble that ultimately paid off. Yet the 20-year old rider didn’t hesitate to thank Salvatierra for the experience he gained from him. “Winning is always something very important, but to do it with your own team and people, is a great feeling that can’t be explained,” said Salas Jr. “It’s a dream come true for me. The truth is that I am very excited and this victory is for all the people of Mexico, and for those who are part of my team.” Salas Jr. and Roberts rode their KTM 450XCF motorcycle through the 473.67-mile course in 10 hours, 29 minutes, and 60 seconds, with an eight minute lead ahead of the 9x team of Connor Eddy who finished second. They had no problems on the course, which allowed them to never slow down their pace, especially when faced with rivals such as Connor Eddy on the 9x bike, SCORE San Felipe winner Ciaran Naran on the 3x bike, and Salvatierra. “We had no problems with our bike; it was a clean race, although the competition with our rivals for the lead was very intense from start to finish,” said Salas Jr. “I took my hat off to them and now it was our turn to celebrate, something that is the work of all the people in the team. Salas added this win to his fourth overall in his last five competitions within SCORE International, all under the colors of the KTM brand. He noted at the finish of this race, that his plan is to start working on what is coming, especially in the SCORE Baja 400 in September and also the SCORE Baja 1000 next November, a race that will start in La Paz, Baja California Sur and ending in Ensenada, Baja California. In The Footsteps Of His Idol Arturo Salas Jr. follows closely the career of Ensenada’s Ivan Ramirez Junior, who is his idol in off-road racing. “Since I was a kid he has been someone I have admired, his victories in Mexico and the United States, I hope one day I can race next to him in a Baja,” said Salas Jr. There had been rumors about the possibility that in the next SCORE Baja 1000, he could have Ramirez’s support and be a co-rider on the team, but Salas Jr. pointed out that it would be another dream come true. “For the moment, we haven’t talked to him,” he said. “Ramirez will tell us what we will do for such a special race for us.” SJ