SCORE INTERNATIONAL

SCORE Journal Issue 2 - 2016

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

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when you didn't have a clean race you had a good chance to win. Now, you have to be clean, you have to be fast, you can't make one mistake. It's mostly driven by these younger guys. They are pushing the sport to be a lot more competitive and it's fun. It makes me work harder and prepare more. It's great for the sport and I love the competition. SJ: How important is being first on the road and setting the pace for you? TV: I've learned to race in the back of the pack. To me setting the pace is not important. I've learned that playing with the pace is the important part. Changing your pace in relation to split times and what the other guys are doing. If you have 90 seconds you can back off a little, then the gap is 55 seconds so you pick it up a little. I used to go out and try to light the world on fire and beat everyone by 10 minutes. Now if I win by one second, I'm good with that. One of the most special things anyone can do in off-road is be first on the road. It gives me goose bumps when it happens. It's cool to be the first truck that everyone sees and the fans are extremely important to our team. When you are that lead truck, the helicopter is above you, that has to be an amazing sight to all the fans who have been waiting for hours. It's one of the great joys I have experienced, leading the SCORE Baja 1000 on the way to La Paz, or last year when I led for about 100 miles at the SCORE Baja 1000. I really enjoyed it. It's not important to me strategically, but it's one of the coolest things in off-road racing. Starting up front has advantages but being in and racing within the pack you can get in people's heads more. If I am behind someone I am more in their head than if I am ahead of them and I like that. Starting in the back and working your way forward is fun. The guys at the front don't expect you to be there because you started 25th or something. I love coming through the pack; wherever I start, if we win its all good. SJ: Last summer you traveled to Mexico City with your Trophy Truck to participate in a demo with Formula 1 drivers Carlos Sainz Jr., Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio "Checo" Perez to promote the upcoming F1 race. What was is like to drive your truck in an F1 event? TV: One of the most special things about being with Red Bull is that I get these amazing opportunities. Being in Mexico City at Zocalo, the main square in the center of the city with the drivers was amazing. I had the opportunity to take Lopez for a ride in the Trophy Truck. He got out and said it was the coolest thing he has ever done. Sainz and Ricciardo were with their handlers and kept busy at the Zocalo event. Then they heard the Trophy Truck and told their people to give them a minute. They walked out of the tent to film and take photos of the Trophy Truck. The rawness and wild-wild west aspect of off- road in contrast to the rigidity of most racing events attracts people. It really draws other racers into what we do. Going to Mexico City and showing these Chilangos (slang for home town residents) is what Baja racing it all about. They have no clue; then they see the truck and think it's amazing. My family and I like to be TAVO VILDOSOLA IS THE CROWD FAVORITE IN SAN FELIPE. HE'S WON THE SCORE SAN FELIPE 250 THREE TIMES IN A ROW. 038 SCORE JOURNAL

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