SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1542694
BELTRAN’S BAJA Mexico’s Fernando Beltran dominated SCORE Pro Stock UTV By Larry Saavedra Photos by Get Some Photo Considered one of Mexico’s most talented UTV racers, Fernando Beltran, in the No. 3921 Can-Am, says his experience as a former SCORE Pro Moto racer gave him the kind of confidence that money couldn’t buy. “I won the 2025 Class Championship and the biggest race of the season because I visualized the terrain differently than most, thanks to my experience in Pro Moto,” he said. With three first-place class finishes and a second-place podium in SCORE Pro Stock UTV for 2025, few would argue. “As I said, my experience racing motorcycles helped tremendously,” he said. “I see the terrain from a different perspective.” But as the season progressed, there were moments that had him second-guessing himself. Like the second-place finish at the SCORE Baja 500 that left him only a few points ahead of his rivals, Yoshua Morquecho in the No. 3926 Polaris RZR and Antonio Mendez in the No. 2969 Polaris RZR. “Because of how tight the points race became, the key race for us was the SCORE Baja 400,” Beltran said. “Coming into the race, we didn’t have a lot of lead in points. I think we were only 7 points ahead of Mendez. It was essential to win the Baja 400 before the biggest race of the season. We pushed the most on the shorter Baja 400.” Beltran said he pushed his limits in the SCORE Baja 400 because winning it was critical to taking the class championship. “I wasn’t really stressed because we had a small gap,” he said. Still, Beltran had concerns. After all, Beltran is a privateer and is self-funded. He handles all the responsibilities for his team. Ultimately, Beltran won the SCORE Baja 400, saying that the win released the pressure so he could develop a strategy for the upcoming SCORE Baja 1000. “You have to be consistent throughout the season, but our team needed to distance ourselves in the points,” he said. “Winning the Baja 1000 is important, but to win that race, I didn’t need to get distracted mentally by thinking about winning, winning, winning. That’s why I needed to have a comfortable points lead. Otherwise, I would be way too focused on winning, instead of focusing on placing high enough to take the championship.” During the SCORE Baja 1000, Beltran said he wasn’t that concerned about the outcome. At least on the surface. He wanted to win, but didn’t want to dwell on it. “I didn’t want to think about what may or may not happen, I just knew I could win it,” he said. At mile 220, the race started to happen for Beltran. Then, by mile 600, Beltran was the clear leader in class at the Baja 1000. He never looked back. “I prayed for it,” he said. “It was meant to be, apparently. I had so many people congratulating our team after the finish, even some of our competitors. The people who I raced against were excited to see us on the podium.” SJ